°f 


TS 


HOO 


"HE    MAY    GET    LOST   IN   THE    STORM.' 
Frontispiece.  Barriers. 


Page  4. 


Morfcs  of  E.  p.  IRoe 


VOLUME    FWE 


BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 
P.    P.    COLLIER    &    SON 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 

DODD  &  MEAD, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 

COPYRIGHT,  1882, 
BY  DODD,  MEAD,  &  COMPANY. 

COPYRIGHT,  1885, 
Bv  DODD,  MEAD,  &  COMPANY. 

COPYRIGHT,  1892, 
Bv  DODD,  MEAD.  &  COMPANY. 

COPYRIGHT,  1900, 
BY    MRS  E.  P.  ROE. 


IS  REVERENTLY  DEDICATED  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 
MY   MOTHER 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION 


I  SHALL  say  but  few  words  in  regard  to  this  first  child 
of  my  imagination. 

About  one  year  ago  our  hearts  were  in  deepest  sym- 
pathy with  our  fellow-citizens  of  Chicago,  and  it  occurred 
to  me  that  their  losses,  sufferings,  and  fortitude  might  teach 
lessons  after  the  echoes  of  the  appalling  event  had  died  away 
in  the  press;  and  that  even  the  lurid  and  destructive  flames 
might  reveal  with  greater  vividness  the  need  and  value  of 
Christian  faith. 

I  spent  some  days  among  the  smouldering  ruins,  and 
then  began  the  following  simple  story,  which  has  grown 
into  larger  proportions  than  I  at  first  intended.  But  com- 
paratively a  small  part  of  the  narrative  is  occupied  with  the 
fire,  for  its  scenes  are  beyond  description,  and  too  strange 
and  terrible  to  be  dwelt  upon.  Therefore  the  thread  of  my 
story  is  carried  rapidly  through  that  period  of  unparalleled 
excitement  and  disaster. 

Nearly  all  the  scenes  introduced  are  historical,  and  are 
employed  to  give  their  terrible  emphasis  to  that  which  is 
equally  true  in  the  serenest  and  securest  times. 

B.  P.  R. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I 
LOVE  UNKNOWN 13 

CHAPTER  II 
LOVE  KNOWN 22 

CHAPTER  III 
LAUNCHED 2$ 

CHAPTER  IV 
COLD  WATER ' 35 

CHAPTER  V 
A  HORNET'S  NEST 42 

CHAPTER  VI 

"STARVE  THEN!" 48 

CHAPTER  VII 
A  GOOD  SAMARITAN 54 

CHAPTER  VIII 
YAHCOB  BUNK 61 

CHAPTER  IX 
LAND  AT  LAST 68 

CHAPTER  X 
THE  NEW  BROOM .     ....     75 

CHAPTER  XI 

TOO   MUCH  ALIKE 82 

CHAPTER  XII 
BLUE  BLOOD ,    .    89 

CHAPTER  XIII 

VERY  COLD 100 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XIV 
SHE  SPEAKS  TO  HIM  .  . 105 

CHAPTEK  XV 
PEOMOTED 109 

CHAPTER  XVI 
JUST  IN  TIME 116 

CHAPTER  XVII 
RESCUED . 124 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

MlSS   LUDOLPH   MAKES   A   DISCOVERY 1S1 

CHAPTER  XIX 
WHAT  is  THE  MATTER  WITH  HIM? 139 

CHAPTER  XX 
Is  HE  A  GENTLEMAN? 147 

CHAPTER  XXI 
CHRISTINE'S  IDEA  OF  CHRISTIANS 155 

CHAPTER  XXII 
EQUAL  TO  AN  EMERGENCY 166 

CHAPTER  XXIII 
THE  REVELATION 174 

CHAPTER  XXIV 
NIGHT  THOUGHTS 183 

CHAPTER  XXV 
DARKNESS ?ir  .....  191 

CHAPTER  XXVI 
Miss  LUDOLPH  COMMITS  A  THEFT 203 

CHAPTER  XXVII 
A  MISERABLE  TRIUMPH 212 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 
LIFE  WITHOUT  LOVE  .  ......  223 


CONTENTS  9 

CHAPTER  XXIX 
DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL  USE  .    .    0    t     .  234 

CHAPTER  XXX 
THE  Two  HEIGHTS .  250 

CHAPTER  XXXI 
BEGUILED «    .  260 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

BITTER  DISAPPOINTMENT e    .  269 

CHAPTER  XXXIII 
THE  Two  PICTURES c    .  280 

CHAPTER  XXXIV 
REGRET -  292 

CHAPTER  XXXY 
REMORSE .  306 

CHAPTER  XXXVI 
AN  APPARITION 316 

CHAPTER  XXXVII 
IF  HE  KNEW! 328 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII 
THE  GATES  OPEN 339 

CHAPTER  XXXIX 

SUSIE    WlNTHROP   APPEARS   AGAIN  .      .      .      .      .      .      .   351 

CHAPTER  XL 
SUGGESTIVE  PICTURES  AND  A  PRIZE 359 

CHAPTER  XLI 
FIRE!  FIRE! 865 

CHAPTER  XLII 
BARON  LUDOLPH  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH  .    .    .    4     .    .  872 

CHAPTER  XLIII 
"CHRISTINE,  AWAKE!   FOR  YOUR  LIFE!"     .    .    *    .  380 


10  CONTENTS 

CHAPTEE  XLIV 
ON  THE  BEACH 392 

CHAPTER  XLV 
"PRAYER  is  MIGHTY."    CHRISTINE  A  CHRISTIAN     .  404 

CHAPTEE  XL VI 
CHRISTINE'S  GRAVE 414 

CHAPTEE  XLVII 
SUSIE  WINTHROP 422 

CHAPTEE  XLVIII 
DR.  ARTEN  STRUCK  BY  LIGHTNING 480 

CHAPTEE  XLIX 

BILL  CRONK'S  TOAST 440 

CHAPTEE  L 
EVERY  BARRIER  BURNED  AWAY     ....  .450 


BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


BARRIERS  BURNED  AWAY 


CHAPTER  I 

LOVE      UNKNOWN 

FROM  its  long  sweep  over  the  unbroken  prairie  a 
heavier  blast  than  usual  shook  the  slight  frame 
house.  The  windows  rattled  in  the  casements,  as 
if  shivering  in  their  dumb  way  in  the  December  storm. 
So  open  and  defective  was  the  dwelling  in  its  construc- 
toin,  that  eddynig  currents  of  cold  air  found  admittance 
at  various  points — in  some  instances  carrying  with  them 
particles  of  the  fine,  sharp,  hail-like  snow  that  the  gale 
was  driving  before  it  in  blinding  fury. 

Seated  at  one  of  the  windows,  peering  out  into  the  gath- 
ering gloom  of  the  swiftly  coming  night,  was  a  pale,  faded 
woman  with  lustrous  dark  eyes.  An  anxious  light  shone 
from  them,  as  she  tried  in  vain  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
darkening  road  that  ran  at  a  distance  of  about  fifty  yards 
from  the  house.  As  the  furious  blast  shook  the  frail  tene- 
ment, and  circled  round  her  in  chilly  currents  from  many 
a  crack  and  crevice,  she  gave  a  short,  hacking  cough,  and 
drew  a  thin  shawl  closer  about  her  slight  frame. 

The  unwonted  violence  of  the  wind  had  its  effect  upon 
another  occupant  of  the  room.  From  a  bed  in  the  corner 
near  the  stove  came  a  feeble,  hollow  voice — "Wife!" 

In  a  moment  the  woman  was  bending  over  the  bed,  and 
in  a  voice  full  of  patient  tenderness  answered,  "Well,  dear?" 

"Has  he  come?" 

"Not  yet;  but  he  must  be  here  soon." 

The  word  must  was  emphasized  in  such  a  way  as  to  mean 

(13) 


14  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

doubt  rather  than  certainty,  as  if  trying  to  assure  her  own 
mind  of  a  matter  about  which  painful  misgivings  could  not 
be  banished.  The  quick  ear  of  the  sick  man  caught  the 
tone,  and  in  a  querulous  voice  he  said,  "Oh!  if  he  should 
not  get  here  in  time,  it  would  be  the  last  bitter  drop  in  my 
cup,  now  full  and  running  over. ' ' 

"Dear  husband,  if  human  strength  and  love  can  accom- 
plish it,  he  will  be  here  soon.  But  the  storm  is  indeed 
frightful,  and  were  the  case  less  urgent,  I  could  almost 
wish  he  would  not  try  to  make  his  way  through  it.  But 
then  we  know  what  Dennis  is;  he  never  stops  to  consider 
difficulties,  but  pushes  right  on;  and  if — if  he  doesn't — if 
it  is  possible,  he  will  be  here  before  very  long." 

In  spite  of  herself,  the  mother's  heart  showed  its  anx- 
iety, and,  too  late  for  remedy,  she  saw  the  effect  upon  her 
husband.  He  raised  himself  in  bed  with  sudden  and  un- 
wonted strength.  His  eyes  grew  wild  and  almost  fierce, 
and  in  a  sharp,  hurried  voice,  he  said:  "You  don't  think 
there  is  danger  ?  There  is  no  fear  of  his  getting  lost  ?  If 
I  thought  that  I  would  curse  God  and  die. ' ' 

"Oh,  Dennis,  my  husband,  God  forbid  that  you  should 
speak  thus !  How  can  you  feel  so  toward  our  Best  Friend  ?" 

"What  kind  of  a  friend  has  He  been  to  me,  pray  ?  Has 
not  my  life  been  one  long  series  of  misfortunes?  Have  I 
not  been  disappointed  in  all  my  hopes  ?  I  once  believed  in 
God  and  tried  to  serve  Him.  But  if,  as  I  have  been  taught, 
all  this  evil  and  misfortune  was  ordered  and  made  my 
inevitable  lot  by  Him,  He  has  not  been  my  friend,  but 
my  enemy.  He's  been  against  me,  not  for  me." 

In  the  winter  twilight  the  man's  emaciated,  unshorn  face 
had  the  ghostly,  ashen  hue  of  death.  From  cavernous  sock- 
ets his  eyes  gleamed  with  a  terribly  vindictive  light,  akin 
to  insanity,  and,  in  a  harsh,  high  voice,  as  unnatural  as  his 
appearance  and  words,  he  continued:  "Kemember  what  I 
have  gone  through!  what  I  have  suffered!  how  often  the 
cup  of  success  that  1  was  raising  to  my.  lips  has  been  dashed 
to  the  ground1" 


LOVE    UNKNOWN  15 

"But,  Dennis,  think  a  moment.1' 

"Ah!  haven't  I  thought  till  my  heart  is  gall  and  my 
brain  bursting?  Haven't  I,  while  lying  here,  hopelessly 
dying,  gone  over  my  life  again  and  again?  Haven't  I 
lived  over  every  disappointment,  and  taken  every  step 
downward  a  thousand  times  ?  Kemember  the  pleasant, 
plentiful  home  I  took  you  from,  under  the  great  elms  in 
Connecticut.  Your  father  did  not  approve  of  your  marry- 
ing a  poor  school-teacher.  But  you  know  that  then  I  had 
every  prospect  of  getting  the  village  academy,  but  with  my 
luck  another  got  ahead  of  me.  Then  I  determined  to  study 
law.  What  hopes  I  had !  I  already  grasped  political  hon- 
ors that  seemed  within  my  reach,  for  you  know  I  was  a 
ready  speaker.  If  my  friends  could  only  have  seen  that  I 
was  peculiarly  fitted  for  public  life  and  advanced  me  suffi- 
cient means,  I  would  have  returned  it  tenfold.  But  no;  I 
was  forced  into  other  things  for  which  I  had  no  great  apt- 
ness or  knowledge,  and  years  of  struggling  poverty  and  re- 
peated disappointment  followed.  At  last  your  father  died 
and  gave  us  enough  to  buy  a  cheap  farm  out  here.  But 
why  go  over  our  experience  in  the  West?  My  plan  of 
making  sugar  from  the  sorghum,  which  promised  so 
brilliantly,  has  ended  in  the  most  wretched  failure  of  all. 
And  now  money  has  gone,  health  has  gone,  and  soon 
my  miserable  life  will  be  over.  Our  boy  must  come  back 
from  college,  and  you  and  the  two  little  ones — what  will  you 
do?"  and  the  man  covered  his  head  with  the  blanket  and 
wept  aloud.  His  poor  wife,  borne  down  by  the  torrent  of 
his  sorrow,  was  on  her  knees  at  his  bedside,  with  her  face 
buried  in  her  hands,  weeping  also. 

But  suddenly  he  started  up.  His  sobs  ceased.  His 
tears  ceased  to  flow,  while  his  eyes  grew  hard  and  fierce, 
and  his  hands  clenched. 

"But  he  was  coming,"  he  said.  "He  may  get  lost  in 
the  storm  this  bitter  winter  night." 

He  grasped  his  wife  roughly  by  the  arm.  She  was  as- 
tonished at  his  sudden  strength,  and  raised  a  tearful, 


16  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

startled  face  to  his.  It  was  well  she  could  not  see  its 
terrible  expression  in  the  dusk;  but  she  shuddered  as  he 
hissed  in  her  ear,  "If  this  should  happen — if  my  miserable 
death  is  the  cause  of  his  death — if  my  accursed  destiny  in- 
volves him,  your  staff  and  hope,  in  so  horrible  a  fate,  what 
have  I  to  do  but  curse  God  and  die  ?" 

It  seemed  to  the  poor  woman  that  her  heart  would  burst 
with  the  agony  of  that  moment.  As  the  storm  had  in- 
creased, a  terrible  dread  had  chilled  her  very  soul.  Every 
louder  blast  than  usual  had  caused  her  an  internal  shiver, 
while  for  her  husband's  sake  she  had  controlled  herself  out- 
wardly. Like  a  shipwrecked  man  who  is  clinging  to  a  rock, 
that  he  fears  the  tide  will  submerge,  she  had  watched  the 
snow  rise  from  one  rail  to  another  along  the  fence.  When 
darkness  set  in  it  was  half-way  up  to  the  top  rail,  and  she 
knew  it  was  drifting.  The  thought  of  her  ruddy,  active, 
joyous- hearted  boy,  whose  affection  and  hopefulness  had 
been  the  broad  track  of  sunlight  on  her  hard  path — the 
thought  of  his  lying  white  and  still  beneath  one  of  these 
great  banks,  just  where  she  could  never  know  till  spring 
rains  and  suns  revealed  to  an  indifferent  stranger  his  sleep- 
ing-place— now  nearly  overwhelmed  her  also,  and  even  her 
faith  wavered  on  the  brink  of  the  dark  gulf  of  despair  into 
which  her  husband  was  sinking.  Left  to  herself,  she  might 
have  sunk  for  a  time,  though  her  sincere  belief  in  God's 
goodness  and  love  would  have  triumphed.  But  her  wo- 
manly, unselfish  nature,  her  long  habit  of  sustaining  and 
comforting  her  husband,  came  to  her  aid.  Breathing  a 
quick  prayer  to  Heaven,  which  was  scarcely  more  than  a 
gasp  and  a  glance  upward,  she  asked,  hardly  knowing 
what  she  said,  "And  what  if  he  is  not  lost?  What  if  God 
restores  him  safe  and  well?" 

She  shuddered  after  she  had  thus  spoken,  for  she  saw 
that  her  husband's  belief  in  the  hostility  of  God  had 
reached  almost  the  point  of  insanity.  If  this  test  failed, 
would  he  not,  in  spite  of  all  she  could  say  or  do,  curse 
God  and  die,  as  he  had  said?  But  she  had  been  guided 


LOVE    UNKNOWN  17 

in  her  words  more  than  she  knew.  He  that  careth  for  the 
fall  of  the  sparrow  had  not  forgotten  His  children  in  their 
sore  extremity. 

The  man  in  answer  to  her  question  relaxed  his  hold  upon 
her  arm,  and  with  a  long  breath  fell  back  on  his  pillow. 

"Ah!"  said  he,  "if  I  could  only  see  him  again  safe  and 
well,  if  I  could  only  leave  you  with  him  as  your  protector 
and  support,  I  believe  I  could  forgive  all  the  past  and  be 
reconciled  even  to  my  hard  lot. ' ' 

"God  gives  you  opportunity  so  to  do,  my  father,  for  here 
I  am  safe  and  sound. ' ' 

The  soft  snow  had  muffled  the  son's  footsteps,  and  his 
approach  had  been  unnoted.  Entering  at  the  back  door, 
and  passing  through  the  kitchen,  he  had  surprised  his 
parents  in  the  painful  scene  above  described.  As  he  saw 
his  mother's  form  in  dim  outline  kneeling  at  the  bed,  her 
face  buried  in  its  covering—as  he  heard  his  father's  signifi- 
cant words — the  quick-witted  youth  realized  the  situation. 
While  he  loved  his  father  dearly,  and  honored  him  for  his 
many  good  traits,  he  was  also  conscious  of  his  faults,  espe- 
cially this  most  serious  one  now  threatening  such  fatal  con- 
sequences— that  of  charging  to  God  the  failures  and  disap- 
pointments resulting  from  defects  in  his  own  character.  It 
seemed  as  if  a  merciful  Providence  was  about  to  use  this 
awful  dread  of  accident  to  the  son — a  calamity  that  rose  far 
above  and  overshadowed  all  the  past — as  the  means  of 
winning  back  the  alienated  heart  of  this  weak  and  erring 
man. 

The  effect  of  the  sudden  presence  in  the  sick-room  was 
most  marked.  The  poor  mother,  who  had  shown  such 
self-control  and  patient  endurance  before,  now  gave  way 
utterly,  and  clung  for  a  few  moments  to  her  son's  neck 
with  hysterical  energy,  then  in  strong  reaction  fainted 
away.  The  strain  upon  her  worn  and  overtaxed  system 
had  been  too  severe. 

At  first  the  sick  man  could  only  look  through  the  dusk 
at  the  outline  of  his  son  with  a  bewildered  stare,  his  mind 


18  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

too  weak  to  comprehend  the  truth.  But  soon  he  too  was 
sobbing  for  joy. 

But  when  his  wife  suddenly  became  a  lifeless  weight  in 
his  son's  arms,  who  in  wild  alarm  cried,  ' 'Mother,  what  is 
the  matter  ?  Speak  to  me !  Oh !  I  have  killed  her  by  my 
rash  entrance,"  the  sick  man's  manner  changed,  and  his 
eyes  again  became  dry  and  hard,  and  even  in  the  darkness 
had  a  strange  glitter. 

"Is  your  mother  dead  ?"  he  asked,  in  a  low,  hoarse  voice. 

"Oh,  mother,  speak  to  me!"  cried  the  son,  forgetting 
for  a  time  his  father. 

For  a  moment  there  was  death-like  silence.  Then  the 
young  man  groped  for  an  old  settle  in  the  corner  of  the 
room,  laid  his  mother  tenderly  upon  it,  and  sprang  for  a 
light,  but  as  he  passed  his  father's  bed  the  same  strong 
grasp  fell  upon  his  arm  that  his  mother  had  shuddered 
under  a  little  before,  and  the  question  was  this  time  hissed 
in  his  ear,  "Is  your  mother  dead  ?"  For  a  moment  he  had 
no  power  to  answer,  and  his  father  continued:  "What  a 
fool  I  was  to  expect  God  to  show  mercy  or  Lkindness  to 
me  or  mine  while  I  was  above  ground!  You  are  only 
brought  home  to  suffer  more  than  death  in  seeing  your 
mother  die.  May  that  God  that  has  followed  me  all  my 
life,  not  with  blessings — ' ' 

"Hush,  father!"  cried  his  son,  in  loud,  commanding 
tones.  "Hush,  I  entreat,"  and  in  his  desperation  he  actu- 
ally put  his  hand  over  his  father's  mouth. 

The  poor  woman  must  have  been  dead,  indeed,  had  she 
long  remained  deaf  to  the  voice  of  her  beloved  son,  and  his 
loud  tones  partially  revived  her.  In  a  faint  voice  she  called, 
"Dennis!" 

With  hands  suddenly  relaxed,  and  hearts  almost  stilled 
in  their  beating,  father  and  son  listened  for  a  second.  Again, 
a  little  louder,  through  that  dark  and  silent  room,  was  heard 
the  faint  call,  "Dennis!" 

Springing  to  her  side,  her  son  exclaimed,  '  *  Oh,  mother, 
I  am  here;  don't  leave  us;  in  mercy  don't  leave  us." 


LOVE    UNKNOWN  19 

14 It  was  I  she  called,"  said  his  father. 

With  unnatural  strength  he  had  tottered  across  the  room, 
and  taking  his  wife's  hand,  cried,  "Oh,  Ethel,  don't  die! 
don't  fill  my  already  full  cup  to  overflowing  with  bitter- 
ness!" 

Their  familiar  voices  were  the  best  of  remedies.  After 
a  moment  she  sat  up,  and  passing  her  hand  across  her  brow 
as  if  to  clear  away  confusion  of  mind,  said:  "Don't  be 
alarmed;  it's  only  a  faint  turn.  I  don't  wonder  though 
that  you  are  frightened,  for  I  never  was  so  before." 

Poor  woman,  amid  all  the  emergencies  of  her  hard  lot, 
she  had  never  in  the  past  given  way  so  far. 

Then,  becoming  aware  of  her  husband's  position,  she 
exclaimed:  "Why,  Dennis,  my  husband,  out  of  your  bed? 
You  will  catch  your  death. ' ' 

"Ah,  wife,  that  matters  little  if  you  and  Dennis  live." 

"But  it  matters  much  to  me,"  cried  she,  springing  up. 

By  this  time  her  son  had  struck  a  light,  and  each  was 
able  to  look  on  the  other's  face.  The  unnatural  strength, 
the  result  of  excitement,  was  fast  leaving  the  sick  man. 
The  light  revealed  him  helplessly  leaning  on  the  couch 
where  his  wife  had  lain.  His  face  was  ashen  in  color, 
and  he  was  gasping  for  breath.  Tenderly  they  carried 
him  back  to  his  bed,  and  he  was  too  weak  now  to  do 
more  than  quietly  lie  upon  it  and  gaze  at  them.  After 
replenishing  the  fire,  and  looking  at  the  little  ones  that 
Were  sleeping  in  the  outer  room,  they  shaded  the  lamp, 
and  sat  down  at  his  bedside,  while  the  mother  asked  her 
son  many  eager  questions  as  to  his  escape.  He  told  them 
how  he  had  struggled  through  the  snow  till  almost  ex- 
hausted, when  he  had  been  overtaken  by  a  farmer  with  a 
strong  team,  and  thus  enabled  to  make  the  journey  in 
safety. 

As  the  sick  man  looked  and  listened,  his  face  grew  softer 
and  more  quiet  in  its  expression. 

Then  the  young  man,  remembering,  said:  "I  bought  the 
medicines  you  wrote  for,  mother,  at  Bankville.  This,  the 


20  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

druggist  said,  would  produce  quiet  and  sleep,  and  surely 
father  needs  it  after  the  excitement  of  the  evening." 

The  opiate  was  given,  and  soon  the  regular,  quiet  breath- 
ing of  the  patient  showed  that  it  had  taken  effect.  A  plain 
but  plentiful  supper,  which  the  anxious  mother  had  pre- 
pared hours  before,  was  placed  upon  the  kitchen  table,  and 
the  young  man  did  ample  justice  to  it;  for,  the  moment  the 
cravings  of  his  heart  were  satisfied  in  meeting  his  kindred 
after  absence,  he  became  conscious  of  the  keenest  hunger. 
Toiling  through  the  snow  for  hours  in  the  face  of  the  De- 
cember storm  had  taxed  his  system  to  the  utmost,  and  now 
he  felt  the  need  of  food  and  rest.  After  supper  he  honestly 
meant  to  watch  at  his  father's  bedside,  while  his  mother 
slept;  but  he  had  scarcely  seated  himself  on  the  old  settle, 
when  sleep,  like  an  armed  man,  overpowered  him,  and  in 
spite  of  all  his  efforts  he  was  soon  bound  in  the  dreamless 
slumber  of  healthful  youth.  But  with  eyes  so  wide  and 
lustrous  that  it  seemed  as  if  sleep  could  never  close  them 
again,  the  wife  and  mother,  pale  and  silent,  watched  be- 
tween her  loved  ones.  The  troubled  expression  was  gone, 
for  the  ranks  of  her  little  band  had  closed  up,  and  all  were 
about  her  in  one  more  brief  rest  in  the  forward  and  uncer- 
tain march  of  life.  She  seemed  looking  intently  at  some- 
thing far  off — something  better  discerned  by  the  spiritual 
than  by  the  natural  eye.  Disappointments  had  been  bitter, 
poverty  hard  and  grinding,  but  she  had  learned  to  escape 
into  a  large  world  that  was  fast  becoming  real  to  her  strong 
imagination.  While  her  husband  was  indulging  in  chimeri- 
cal visions  of  boundless  prosperity  here  on  earth  which  he 
would  bring  to  pass  by  some  lucky  stroke  of  fortune  or  in- 
vention, she  also  was  picturing  to  herself  grander  things 
which  God  would  realize  to  her  beyond  time  and  earth. 
When  alone,  in  moments  of  rest  from  incessant  toil,  she 
would  take  down  the  great  family  Bible,  and  with  her 
finger  on  some  description  of  the  "new  heavens  and  new 
earth,"  as  the  connecting  link  between  the  promise  and 
her  strong  realization  of  it,  she  would  look  away  with  that 


LOVE    UNKNOWN  21 

intent  gaze.  The  new  world,  purged  from  sin  and  sorrow, 
would  rise  before  her  with  more  than  Edenlike  loveliness. 
Her  spirit  would  revel  in  its  shadowy  walks  and  sunny 
glades,  and  as  the  crowning  joy  she  would  meet  her  Lord 
and  Saviour  in  some  secluded  place,  and  sit  listening  at 
His  feet  like  Mary  of  old.  Thus,  in  the  strong  illusion  of 
her  imagination,  Christ's  words  seemed  addressed  directly 
to  her,  while  she  looked  up  into  His  face  with  rapt  atten- 
tion. Instead  of  reading  her  Lord's  familiar  sayings,  she 
seemed  to  listen  to  them  as  did  the  early  disciples.  After 
a  little  time  she  would  close  the  Bible  and  go  back  to  her 
hard  practical  life,  awed  yet  strengthened,  and  with  a  hope- 
ful expression,  like  that  which  must  have  rested  on  the  dis- 
ciples' faces  on  coming  down  from  the  Mount  of  Transfig- 
uration. 


BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  II 

LOVE      KNOWN 

HOUR  after  hour  passed.  The  storm  was  dying  away, 
and  at  times,  through  broken  rifts  in  the  clouds, 
stars  would  gleam  out.  Instead  of  the  continued 
roar  and  rush,  the  wind  blew  in  gusts  at  longer  intervals, 
and  nature  seemed  like  a  passionate  child  that  had  cried  it- 
self to  sleep.  The  fitful  blasts  were  the  involuntary  sobs 
that  heave  the  breast,  till  at  last  quiet  and  peace  take  the 
place  of  stormy  anger. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  silent  watcher  never  could  withdraw 
her  gaze  from  the  beautiful  world  of  her  vision.  Never  had 
it  seemed  so  near  and  real  before,  and  she  was  unconscious 
of  the  lapse  of  time.  Suddenly  she  heard  her  name  called 
—"Ethel!" 

If  the  voice  had  come  from  the  imaginary  world  present 
to  her  fancy,  it  could  not  have  startled  her  more  for  a  mo- 
ment. Then  she  realized  that  it  was  her  husband  who  spoke. 
He  had  called  -her  name  in  his  sleep,  and  yet  it  seemed  a  call 
of  God.  At  once  it  flashed  through  her  mind  that  in  dream- 
ing of  a  glorious  and  happy  future  she  was  forgetting  him 
and  his  need. 

She  turned  the  light  upon  his  face.  Never  had  he 
looked  so  pale  and  wan,  and  she  realized  that  he  might 
be  near  his  end.  In  an  agony  of  self-reproach  and  yearn- 
ing tenderness  she  kneeled  at  his  bedside  and  prayed  as  she 
never  had  prayed  before.  Could  he  go  home  ?  Could  he 
be  received,  feeling  toward  his  Father  as  he  did  ?  He  had 
talked  of  forgiving,  when  he  stood  so  sorely  in  need  of 


LOVE   KNOWN 

Christ's  forgiveness;  and  she  had  been  forgetting  that 
need,  when  every  moment  might  involve  her  husband's 
salvation.  Out  of  his  sleep  he  had  called  her  to  his  help. 
Perhaps  God  had  used  his  unconscious  lips  to  summon  her. 
With  a  faith  naturally  strong,  but  greatly  increased  by  the 
vision  of  the  night,  she  went,  as  it  were,  directly  into 
the  presence  of  her  Lord,  and  entreated  in  behalf  of  her 
husband. 

As  she  thus  knelt  at  the  bedside,  with  her  face  buried 
in  the  covering,  she  felt  a  hand  placed  softly  on  her  head, 
and  again  her  husband's  voice  called,  "Ethel!" 

She  looked  up  and  saw  that  he  was  awake  now,  his  eyes 
fixed  on  her  with  an  expression  of  softness  and  tenderness 
that  she  had  not  seen  for  many  a  long  day.  The  old  rest- 
less, anxious  light  had  gone. 

"What  were  you  doing,  Ethel  ?"  he  asked. 

"Praying  that  you  might  see  that  God  loved  you — that 
you  might  be  reconciled  to  Him." 

Two  great  tears  gathered  in  the  man's  eyes.  His  lips 
quivered  a  moment,  then  he  said,  brokenly,  "Surely  God 
must  love  me,  or  He  would  never  have  given  me — a  wife — 
who  would  watch  and  pray  for  me — the  long  winter  night." 

"Oh,  Dennis,  forgive  me;  I  cannot  deceive  you;  for  a 
time  I  forgot  you,  I  forgot  everything,  and  just  wandered 
through  Paradise  alone.  But  in  your  sleep  you  called  me 
to  your  help,  and  now  it  seems  as  if  I  could  not  be  happy 
even  there  without  you.  I  pray  you,  in  Christ's  stead,  be 
reconciled  to  God,"  she  pleaded,  falling  into  the  familiar 
language  of  Scripture,  as  she  often  did  under  strong  emo- 
tion. Then,  in  low,  thrilling  words,  she  portrayed  to  him 
the  "new  earth"  of  her  vision,  wherein  "God  shall  wipe 
away  all  \tears,  and  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain." 
She  showed  him  that  all  might  still  be  well — that  eternity 
was  long  enough  to  make  up  for  the  ills  of  our  brief 
troubled  life  here.  But  his  mind  seemed  preoccupied. 
These  future  joys  did  not  take  that  hold  upon  him  that 


24  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

she  earnestly  desired.  His  eyes  seemed  to  grow  dim  in 
tender,  tearful  wistfulness,  rather  than  become  inspired 
with  immortal  hopes.  At  last  he  spoke: 

"Ethel,  it  seemed  as  if  I  heard  some  one  calling  me.  I 
woke  up — and  there  you — were  praying — for  me.  I  heard 
my  name — I  heard  God's  name — and  I  knew  that  you  were 
interceding  for  me.  It  seemed  to  break  my  hard  heart  right 
up  like  the  fountains  of  the  great  deep  to  see  you  there — 
praying  forme — in  the  cold,  cold  room."  (The  room  was 
not  cold;  it  was  not  the  winter's  chill  that  he  was  feeling, 
but  a  chill  that  comes  over  the  heart  even  in  the  tropical 
summer.)  "Then,  as  you  prayed,  a  great  light  seemed  to 
shine  into  my  soul.  I  saw  that  I  had  been  charging  God 
unjustly  with  all  my  failures  and  misfortunes,  when  I  had 
to  thank  myself  for  them.  Like  a  wilful  child,  I  had  been 
acting  as  if  God  had  but  to  carry  out  my  wild  schemes.  I 
remembered  all  my  unreasonable  murmurings  and  anger; 
I  remembered  the  dreadful  words  I  was  on  the  point  of 
uttering  to-night,  and  for  a  moment  it  seemed  as  if  the  pit 
would  open  and  swallow  me  up." 

He  paused  for  breath,  and  then  went  on: 
"But  as  my  despairing  eyes  glanced  restlessly  around, 
they  fell  upon  the  face  of  my  son,  noble  and  beautiful  even 
in  sleep,  and  I  remembered  how  God  had  brought  him 
safely  back.  Then  your  low,  pleading  tone  fixed  my  at- 
tention again.  It  seemed  to  me  that  God's  love  must  be 
better  and  stronger  than  human  love,  and  yet  you  had 
loved  me  through  all  my  folly  and  weakness;  so  perhaps 
had  He.  Then  I  felt  that  such  a  prayer  as  you  were  of- 
fering could  not  remain  unheard,  you  seemed  to  pray  so 
earnestly.  I  felt  that  I  ought  to  pray  myself,  and  I  com- 
menced calling  out  in  my  heart,  'God  be  merciful  to  me — 
a  sinner. '  Then  while  I  prayed,  I  seemed  to  see  my  Sav- 
iour's face  right  above  your  bowed  head.  Oh,  how  re- 
proachfully He  looked  at  me!  and  yet  His  expression  was 
full  of  love,  too.  It  was  just  such  a  look,  I  think,  that  He 
fixed  on  Peter  when  he  denied  Him.  Then  it  seemed  that 


LOVE   KNOWN  25 

I  fell  down  at  His  feet  and  wept  bitterly,  and  as  I  did  so  the 
look  of  reproach  passed  away,  and  only  an  expression  of 
love  and  forgiveness  remained.  A  sudden  peace  came  into 
my  soul  which  I  cannot  describe;  a  rush  of  tears  into  my 
eyes;  and  when  I  had  wiped  them  away,  I  saw  only  your 
bowed  form  praying  —  praying  on  for  me.  And,  Ethel 
dear,  my  patient,  much-enduring  wife,  I  believe  God  has 
answered  your  prayer.  I  feel  that  I  am  a  new  man." 

4 'God  be  praised  1"  exclaimed  his  wife,  with  streaming 
eyes.  Then  in  a  sudden  rush  of  tenderness  she  clasped 
her  husband  to  her  heart,  her  strong  love  seeming  like  the 
echo  of  God's  love,  the  earnest  here  on  earth  of  that  above, 
where  all  barriers  shall  pass  away. 

The  sound  of  their  voices  toward  the  last  had  awakened 
their  son,  and  he  now  stood  beside  them  with  wet  eyes  and 
heaving  breast. 

When  the  wife  rose  from  her  embrace,  she  saw  that  her 
husband  was  very  weak.  For  a  few  moments  he  gasped  for 
breath.  Then,  getting  a  little  easier,  he  looked  up  and  saw 
his  son,  and  exclaimed:  "Thank  God — my  boy — thank  God 
— you  are  here.  Ah,  my  son — 1  have  learned  much — since 
we  spoke  together  last.  I  have  seen  that — I  have  much  more 
— need  of  forgiveness  than — to  forgive.  Thanks  to  your — 
mother's  prayers — I  believe — I  feel  sure  that  I  am  for- 
given.'* 

"More  thanks  to  God's  love,  Dennis,"  said  his  wife. 
"God  wanted  to  forgive  you  all  the  time  more  than  we 
wanted  Him  to.  Thank  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  for 
His  great  love  wherewith  He  loved  us.  He  is  longsuffer- 
ing  to  usward,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish." 

"Those  are  sweet  words,  wife,  and  I  have  found  them 
true." 

For  a  little  time  they  sat  with  clasped  hands,  their  hearts 
too  full  to  speak.  Faint  streaks  along  the  eastern  horizon 
showed  that  the  dawn  was  near.  The  sick  man  gave  a  slight 
shiver,  and  passed  his  hands  across  his  eyes  as  if  to  clear 
away  a  mist,  and  then  said,  feebly:  "Dennis,  my  son — 

ROE— Y— 2 


26  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

won't  you  turn  up  the  lamp  a  little — and  fix  the  fire? 
The  room  seems  getting  so  cold — and  dark." 

The  wife  looked  at  her  son  in  quick  alarm.  The  stove 
was  red-hot,  and  the  lamp,  no  longer  shaded,  stood  openly 
on  the  table. 

The  son  saw  that  he  must  take  the  lead  in  the  last  sad 
scene,  for  in  the  presence  of  death  the  heart  of  the  loving, 
constant  woman  clung  to  her  husband  as  never  before. 
Throwing  herself  on  her  knees  by  his  side,  she  cried  with 
loud,  choking  sobs,  "Oh,  Dennis — husband — I  fear — you 
are  leaving  me!" 

"Is  this  death?"  he  asked  of  his  son,  in  an  awed  tone. 

4 'I  fear  it  is,  father,"  said  the  young  man,  gently. 

After  a  moment  his  father  said,  composedly:  "I  think 
you  are  right.  I  feel  that — my  end  is  near,  Ethel — darling 
— for  my  sake — try  to  be  calm — during  the  last  few  mo- 
ments I  am  with  you." 

A  few  stifled  sobs  and  the  room  was  still. 

UI  have  but  little  time  to — put  my  house — in  order — 
and  if  I  had  months — I  could  not  do  it.  Dennis,  I  leave 
you — little  else — than  debts — embarrassments,  and  the  rec- 
ord of  many  failures.  You  must  do — the  best  you  can.  I 
am  not  able  to  advise  you.  Only  never  love  this  world  as 
I  have.  It  will  disappoint  you.  And,  whatever  happens, 
never  lose  faith  in  the  goodness  of  God.  This  has  been  my 
bane.  It  has  poisoned  my  life  here,  and,  had  it  not  been 
for  this  dear  wife,  it  would  have  been  my  destruction  here- 
after. For  long  years — only  her  patient  love — has  stood 
between  me  and  a  miserable  end.  Next  to  God — I  com- 
mit her  and  your  little  sisters  to  your  care.  Be  true  to 
this  most  sacred  trust. 

"Ethel,  dear,  my  more  than  wife— my  good  angel — what 
shall  I  say  to  you?"  and  the  man's  lip  quivered,  and  for  a 
time  he  could  say  no  more.  But  an  unwonted  composure 
had  come  into  his  wife's  manner.  The  eyes  were  gaining 
that  intent  look  which  was  their  expression  when  picturing 
to  herself  scenes  in  the  life  beyond. 


LOVE   KNOWN  27 

"Oh,  Dennis,  we  seem  just  on  the  confines  of  a  glorious 
world — it  is  so  near,  so  real — it  seems  as  if  but  a  step  would 
take  us  all  into  it.  Oh !  if  you  could  but  see  its  beauties, 
its  glories — if  you  could  hear  the  music,  you  would  not 
fear  to  enter.  It  seems  as  if  we  were  there  together  now." 

"Oh,  Ethel,  come  back,  come  back,"  cried  her  husband, 
piteously.  "I  am  not  worthy  of  all  that.  I  have  no  heart 
for  glory  now.  I  can  see  only  my  Saviour's  face  looking — 
at  me — with  love  and  forgiveness.  That  is  heaven  enough 
for  me — and  when  you  come — my  cup  will  be  more  than 
full.  And  now — farewell — for  a  little  while." 

For  a  few  moments  they  clung  to  each  other.  Then  the 
little  girls  were  brought,  and  their  father  pressed  his  cold 
lips  to  their  warm,  fresh  young  faces.  They  wondered  at 
a  scene  they  could  not  understand,  and  were  tearful  be- 
cause of  the  tears  of  others. 

He  was  now  going  very  fast.  Suddenly  he  turned  to 
his  son  and  said,  "Dennis,  repeat  to  me  that  verse,  'This 
is  a  faithful  saying — ' ' ' 

With  a  voice  hoarse  and  broken  by  emotion,  his  son 
complied:  "This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all 
acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners." 

"Of  whom  I  am  chief,"  said  his  father,  emphatically. 
"And  yet" — his  face  lighting  up  with  a  wan  smile,  like  a 
sudden  ray  of  light  falling  on  a  clouded  landscape  before 
the  sun  sinks  below  the  horizon — "and  yet  forgiven." 

By  and  by  he  again  whispered,  "Forgiven!" 

Then  his  eyes  closed,  and  all  was  still.  They  thought 
he  was  gone.  But  as  they  stood  over  him  in  awed,  breath- 
less silence,  his  lips  again  moved.  Bending  down,  they 
heard  in  faint,  far-away  tones,  like  an  echo  from  the  other 
side,  "Forgiven!" 


28  BARRIERS  BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  III 

LAUNCHED 

SCARCELY  was  the  last  word  spoken  when  a  sudden 
glory  filled  the  room.  So  brilliant  was  the  light 
that  mother  and  son  were  startled.  Then  they  saw 
what  had  been  unnoted  before,  that  day  had  broken,  and 
that  the  sun,  emerging  from  a  single  dark  cloud,  was  shin- 
ing, full-orbed,  into  the  apartment  with  a  light  that,  re- 
flected from  myriads  of  snowy  crystals,  was  doubly  lumi- 
nous. Nevertheless  it  seemed  to  them  a  good  omen,  an 
earnest,  an  emblem  of  the  purer,  whiter  light  into  which 
the  cleansed  and  pardoned  spirit  had  entered.  The  snow- 
wrapped  prairie  was  indeed  pure  and  bright,  but  it  was 
cold.  The  Father's  embrace,  receiving  home  the  long- 
absent,  erring,  but  forgiven  child,  would  be  warm  indeed. 

Though  the  bereaved  wife  believed  that  a  brighter  dawn 
than  that  which  made  the  world  resplendent  around  her  had 
come  to  her  husband,  still  a  sense  of  desolation  came  over 
her  which  only  those  can  understand  who  have  known  a 
loss  like  hers.  For  years  he  had  filled  the  greater  part  of 
time,  thought,  and  heart.  As  she  saw  her  first  and  only 
love,  the  companion  of  a  life  which,  though  hard,  still  had 
the  light  and  solace  of  mutual  affection — as  she  saw  him  so 
still,  and  realized  that  she  would  hear  him  speak  no  more — 
complain  no  more  (for  even  the  weaknesses  of  those  we  love 
are  sadly  missed  after  death) — a  flood  of  that  natural  sorrow 
which  Christianity  consoles,  but  was  never  designed  to  pre- 
vent, overwhelmed  her,  and  she  gave  way  utterly. 

Her  son  took  her  in  his  arms  and  held  her  silently,  be- 


LAUNCHED  29 

lieving  that  unspoken  sympathy  was  worth  more  at  such  a 
time  than  any  words. 

After  the  convulsive  sobbing  had  somewhat  ceased,  he 
struck  the  right  chord  by  saying:  u Mother,  father  is  not 
lost  to  us.  He  himself  said  good- by  only  for  a  little  while. 
Then  you  have  us  to  love  and  think  of;  and  remember, 
what  could  we  do  without  you  ?J ' 

The  unselfish  woman  would  have  tried  to  rise  from  a  bed 
of  death  to  do  anything  needed  by  her  loved  ones,  and  this 
reminder  of  those  still  dependent  on  her  care  proved  the 
most  potent  of  restoratives.  She  at  once  arose  and  said: 
"  Dennis,  you  are  right.  It  is  indeed  wrong  for  me  to  give 
way  thus,  when  I  have  so  much  to  be  thankful  for — so 
much  to  live  for.  But,  O  Dennis!  you  cannot  understand 
this  separation  of  husband  and  wife,  for  God  said,  'They 
twain  shall  be  one  flesh* ;  and  it  seems  as  if  half  my  very 
life  had  gone — as  if  half  my  heart  had  been  wrenched  away, 
and  only  a  bleeding  fragment  left." 

The  patter  of  feet  was  heard  on  the  kitchen  floor,  the 
door  opened,  and  two  little  figures  in  white  trailing  night- 
gowns entered.  At  first  they  looked  in  shy  wonder  and 
perplexity  at  their  tall  brother,  whom  they  had  not  seen 
for  months,  but  at  his  familiar  voice,  recalling  many  a  romp 
and  merry  time  together,  they  rushed  to  his  arms  as  of  old. 

Then  they  drew  near  the  bed  to  give  their  father  his  ac- 
customed morning  kiss;  but,  as  they  approached,  he  seemed 
so  still  that  awe  began  to  creep  over  their  little  faces.  A 
dim  recollection  of  the  farewell  kiss  given  a  few  hours 
before,  when  they  were  scarcely  awake,  recurred  to  them. 

4 'Father,"  said  the  elder  (about  five),  "we  want  to  give 
you  good-morning  kiss." 

Seldom  had  their  father  been  so  sick  or  irritable  but  that 
he  reached  out  his  arms  to  his  little  ones  and  gave  them  a 
warm  embrace,  that  did  him  more  good  than  he  realized. 
The  influence  of  trusting  children  is  sometimes  the  most 
subtile  oil  that  can  be  thrown  on  the  troubled  waters  of  life. 

But  as  the  little  ones  saw  that  their  father  made  no  re- 


30  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

sponse  to  their  approach  and  appeal,  they  timidly  drew  a 
step  nearer,  and  looked  into  his  wasted,  yet  peaceful  face, 
with  its  closed  eyes  and  motionless  repose,  and  then,  turn- 
ing to  their  mother,  said  in  a  loud  whisper,  with  faces  full 
of  perplexity  and  trouble,  "Is  papa  asleep  ?M 

The  little  figures  in  their  white  drapery,  standing  beside 
their  dead  father,  waiting  to  perform  the  usual,  well- remem- 
bered household  rite,  proved  a  scene  too  touching  for  the 
poor  mother's  self-control,  and  again  she  gave  way  to  a 
burst  of  sorrow.  But  her  son,  true  to  his  resolution  to  be 
the  stay  and  strength  of  the  family,  hastened  to  the  chil- 
dren, and,  taking  them  by  the  hand,  said  gently:  "Yes, 
little  ones,  papa  is  asleep.  It  may  be  a  long  time  before  he 
wakes,  but  he  surely  will  by  and  by,  and  then  he  will  never 
be  sick  any  more.  Come,  -we  will  go  into  the  other  room 
and  sing  a  pretty  hymn  about  papa's  sleep." 

The  thought  of  hearing  their  brother  sing  lured  them 
away  at  once,  for  he  had  a  mellow  tenor  voice  that  seemed 
to  the  little  girls  sweeter  than  a  bird's.  A  moment  later 
the  widow's  heart  was  comforted  by  hearing  those  words 
that  have  been  balm  for  so  many  wounds: 

"Asleep  in  Jesus  1  blessed  sleep  I 
From  which  none  ever  wakes  to  weep." 

Then,  putting  on  his  sisters'  flannel  wrappers,  he  set  them 
down  by  the  fire,  telling  stories  in  the  meantime  to  divert 
their  thoughts  from  the  scene  they  had  just  witnessed. 

Thus  no  horror  of  death  was  suffered  to  enter  their  young 
minds.  They  were  not  brought  face  to  face  with  a  dreadful 
mystery  which  they  could  not  understand,  but  which  would 
have  a  sinister  effect  for  life.  Gradually  they  would  learn 
the  truth,  but  still  the  first  impression  would  remain,  and 
their  father's  death  would  ever  be  to  them  a  sleep  from  which 
he  would  wake  by  and  by,  "never  to  be  sick  any  more." 

Dennis  set  about  preparations  for  their  simple  morning 
meal  so  deftly  and  easily  as  to  show  that  it  was  no  unaccus- 
tomed task.  A  sister  older  than  himself  had  died  while  yet 


LAUNCHED  31 

an  infant,  leaving  a  heartache  till  he  came — God's  best 
remedy.  Then  two  sisters  had  died  after  his  day,  and  he 
nad  been  compelled  to  be  to  his  mother  daughter  as  well 
as  son,  to  make  himself  useful  in  every  household  task. 
His  father  had  been  wrapped  up  in  useless  inventions,  vain 
enterprises,  and  was  much  away.  So  mother  and  son  were 
constantly  together.  He  had  early  become  a  great  comfort 
and  help  to  her,  God  blessing  her  in  this  vital  respect, 
though  her  lot  seemed  hard  in  other  ways.  Thus,  while  he 
had  the  heart  and  courage  of  a  man,  he  also  had  the  quick, 
supple  hand  and  gentle  bearing  of  a  woman,  when  occasion 
required.  As  proof  of  his  skill,  a  tempting  meal  from  the 
simplest  materials  was  placed  smoking  on  the  table,  and 
the  little  girls  were  soon  chatting  contentedly  over  their 
breakfast.  In  the  meantime  the  wife  within  had  drawn  near 
her  dead  husband  and  taken  his  cold  hand.  For  a  while  she 
dwelt  on  the  past  in  strong  and  tearful  agony,  then,  in  ac- 
cordance with  long-established  habit,  her  thoughts  went 
forward  into  the  future.  In  imagination  she  was  present 
at  her  husband's  reception  in  heaven.  The  narrow,  meagre 
room  melted  away,  and  her  feet  seemed  to  stand  on  the 
"golden  pavement."  The  jubilant  clash  of  heavenly  cym- 
bals thrilled  her  heart.  She  seemed  taking  part  in  a  tri- 
umphal march  led  by  celestial  minstrelsy  toward  the  throne. 
She  saw  her  husband  mount  its  white,  glistening  steps,  so 
changed,  and  yet  so  like  his  former  self  when  full  of  love, 
youth,  and  hope.  He  appeared  overwhelmed  with  a  sense 
of  unworthiness,  but  his  reception  was  all  the  more  kind 
and  reassuring.  Then  as  he  departed  from  the  royal  pres- 
ence, crowned  with  God's  love  and  favor  forever,  though 
he  had  all  heaven  before  him,  he  seemed  looking  for  her 
as  that  he  longed  for  most,  and  her  strong  effort  to  reach 
his  side  aroused  her  from  her  revery  as  from  a  dream.  But 
her  vision  had  strengthened  her,  as  was  ever  the  case,  and 
the  bitterness  of  grief  was  passed.  Imprinting  a  long  kiss- 
on  her  husband's  cold  forehead,  she  joined  her  family  in 
the  outer  room  with  calm  and  quiet  mien.  Her  son  saw 


52  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

and  understood  the  change  in  his  mother's  manner,  and 
from  long  experience  knew  its  cause. 

We  need  not  dwell  on  what  followed — preparations  for 
burial,  the  funeral,  the  return  to  a  home  from  which  one 
who  had  filled  so  large  a  place  had  gone — a  home  on  which 
rested  the  shadow  of  death.  These  are  old,  familiar  scenes, 
acted  over  and  over  every  day,  and  yet  in  the  little  house- 
holds where  they  occur  there  is  a  terrible  sense  of  novelty 
as  if  they  then  happened  for  the  first  time.  The  family  feel 
as  if  they  were  passing  through  a  chaotic  period — the  old 
world  breaking  up  and  vanishing,  and  a  new  formation 
and  combination  of  all  the  elements  that  make  up  life 
taking  place. 

Many  changes  followed.  Their  farm  was  sold.  Part  of 
a  small  house  in  the  village  of  Bankville  was  rented  as 
their  future  residence.  A  very  small  annuity  from  some 
property  in  the  East,  left  by  Mrs.  Fleet's  father,  was,  with 
Dennis's  labor,  all  the  family  had  to  depend  on  now— a 
meagre  prospect. 

But  Dennis  was  very  sanguine;  for  in  this  respect  he 
had  his  father's  temperament.  The  world  was  all  before 
him,  and  Chicago,  the  young  and  giant  city  of  the  West, 
seemed  an  Eldorado,  where  fortune,  and  perhaps  fame, 
might  soon  be  won.  He  would  not  only  place  the  family 
beyond  want,  but  surround  them  with  every  luxury. 

Dennis,  wise  and  apt  as  far  as  his  knowledge  went,  was 
in  some  respects  as  simple  and  ignorant  as  a  child.  There 
were  many  phases  and  conditions  of  society  of  which  he 
had  never  dreamed.  Of  the  ways  of  the  rich  and  fashion- 
able, of  the  character  of  artificial  life,  he  had  not  the  re- 
motest experience.  He  could  not  see  or  understand  the 
distinctions  and  barriers  that  to  the  world  are  more  impas- 
sable than  those  of  ignorance,  stupidity,  and  even  gross 
immorality.  He  would  learn,  to  his  infinite  surprise,  that 
even  in  a  Western  democratic  city  men  would  be  welcomed 
in  society  whose  hand  no  pure  woman  or  honorable  man 
ought  to  touch,  while  he,  a  gentleman  by  birth,  educationt 


LAUNCHED  33 

and  especially  character,  would  not  be  recognized  at  all. 
He  would  discover  that  wealth  and  the  indorsement  of 
a  few  fashionable  people,  though  all  else  were  lacking, 
would  be  a  better  passport  than  the  noblest  qualities  and 
fine  abilities.  As  we  follow  him  from  the  seclusion  of  his 
simple  country  home  into  the  complicated  life  of  the  world, 
all  this  will  become  apparent. 

Long  and  earnest  was  the  conversation  between  mother 
and  son  before  they  separated.  Pure  and  noble  were  the 
maxims  that  she  sought  to  instil  into  his  mind.  They  may 
not  have  been  worldly  wise,  but  they  were  heavenly  wise. 
Though  some  of  her  advice  in  the  letter  might  avail  little, 
since  she  knew  less  of  the  world  than  did  her  son,  still  in 
its  spirit  it  contained  the  best  of  all  wisdom,  profitable  for 
this  life  and  the  life  to  come.  But  she  sent  him  forth  to 
seek  his  fortune  and  theirs  with  less  solicitude  than  most 
mothers  have  just  cause  to  feel,  for  she  knew  that  he  had 
Christian  principle,  and  had  passed  through  discipline  that 
had  sobered  and  matured  him  far  beyond  his  years.  She 
saw,  however,  in  every  word  and  act  his  father's  sanguine 
temperament.  He  was  expecting  much,  hoping  far  more, 
and  she  feared  that  he  also  was  destined  to  many  a  bitter 
disappointment.  Still  she  believed  that  he  possessed  a  good 
strong  substratum  of  common-sense,  and  this  combined  with 
the  lessons  of  faith  and  patience  taught  of  God  would  prove 
the  ballast  his  father  had  lacked. 

She  sought  to  modify  his  towering  hopes  and  rose-colored 
visions,  but  to  little  purpose.  Young,  buoyant,  in  splendid 
health,  with  a  surplus  of  warm  blood  tingling  in  every  vein, 
how  could  he  take  a  prudent,  distrustful  view  of  the  world  ? 
It  seemed  to  beckon  him  smilingly  into  any  path  of  success 
he  might  choose.  Had  not  many  won  the  victory  ?  and  who 
ever  felt  braver  and  more  determined  than  he,  with  the 
needs  of  the  dear  ones  at  home  added  to  his  own  incentives 
and  ambitions  ?  So,  with  many  embraces,  lingering  kisses, 
and  farewell  words,  that  lost  not  their  meaning  though  said 
over  and  over  again,  they  parted.  The  stage  carried  him  to 


S4  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

the  nearest  railway  station,  and  the  express  train  bore  him 
rapidly  toward  the  great  city  where  he  expected  to  find  all 
that  a  man's  heart  most  craves  on  earth. 

Sanguine  as  his  father,  constant  as  his  mother,  with  a 
nature  that  would  go  right  or  wrong  with  tremendous 
energy,  as  direction  might  be  given  it,  he  was  destined  to 
live  no  tame,  colorless  life,  but  would  either  enjoy  much, 
or  else  suffer  much.  To  his  young  heart,  swelling  with 
hopes,  burning  with  zeal  to  distinguish  himself  and  pro- 
vide for  those  he  was  leaving,  even  the  bleak,  snow-clad 
prairie  seemed  an  arena  in  which  he  might  accomplish  a 
vague  something. 


COLD    WATER  35 


CHAPTER   IV 

COLD   WATER 

THE  train,  somewhat  impeded  by  snow,  landed  Dennis 
in  Chicago  at  about  nine  in  the  evening.  In  his 
pocket  he  had  ten  dollars — ample  seed  corn,  he  be- 
lieved, for  a  golden  harvest.  This  large  sum  was  expected 
to  provide  for  him  till  he  should  find  a  situation  and  receive 
the  first  instalment  of  salary.  He  would  inform  his  em- 
ployer, when  he  found  him,  how  he  was  situated,  and  ask 
to  be  paid  early  and  often. 

Without  a  misgiving  he  shouldered  the  little  trunk  that 
contained  his  worldly  effects,  and  stalked  off  to  a  neighbor- 
ing hotel,  that,  from  its  small  proportions,  suggested  a 
modest  bill.  With  a  highly  important  man-of- the- world 
manner  he  scrawled  his  name  in  an  illegible,  student-like 
hand  on  the  dingy,  dog-eared  register.  With  a  gracious, 
condescending  air  he  ordered  the  filthy,  tobacco- stained 
porter  to  take  his  trunk  to  his  room. 

The  bar-room  was  the  only  place  provided  for  strangers. 
Eegarding  the  bar  with  a  holy  horror,  he  got  away  from  it 
as  far  as  possible,  and  seated  himself  by  the  stove,  on  which 
simmered  a  kettle  of  hot  water  for  the  concoction  of  punches, 
apparently  more  in  demand  at  that  hotel  than  beds.  Be- 
coming disgusted  with  the  profanity  and  obscenity  down- 
stairs, he  sought  refuge  in  the  cold,  miserable  little  room 
assigned  to  him.  Putting  on  his  overcoat,  he  wrapped 
himself  up  in  a  coverlet  and  threw  himself  down  on  the 
outside  of  the  bed. 

The  night  passed  slowly.     He  was  too  uncomfortable, 


8(5  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

too  excited,  to  sleep.  The  scenes  of  the  past  blended  con- 
fusedly with  visions  of  the  future,  and  it  was  nearly  morn- 
ing when  he  fell  into  an  unquiet  slumber. 

When  at  last  aroused  by  the  shriek  of  a  locomotive,  he 
found  that  the  sun  was  up  and  shining  on  the  blotched  and 
broken  wall  above  him.  A  few  minutes  sufficed  for  his 
toilet,  and  yet,  with  his  black  curling  hair,  noble  forehead, 
and  dark,  silken  upper  lip,  many  an  exquisite  would  have 
envied  the  result. 

His  plan  was  simple  enough — dictated  indeed  by  the 
necessities  of  the  case.  He  must  at  once  find  a  situation 
in  which  he  could  earn  sufficient  to  support  his  mother  and 
sisters  and  himself.  Thence  he  could  look  around  till  he 
found  the  calling  that  promised  most.  Having  left  college 
and  given  up  his  chosen  profession  of  the  law,  he  had  re- 
solved to  adopt  any  honest  pursuit  that  seemed  to  lead  most 
quickly  to  fortune. 

Too  impatient  to  eat  his  breakfast,  he  sallied  forth  into 
the  great  city,  knowing  not  a  soul  in  it.  His  only  recom- 
mendations and  credentials  were  his  young,  honest  face, 
and  a  letter  from  his  minister,  saying  that  he  was  a  member 
of  the  church  in  Bankville,  "in  good  and  regular  standing," 
and,  "as  far  as  he  knew,  a  most  worthy  young  man" — rather 
meagre  capital  amid  the  competitions  of  a  large  city.  But, 
with  courage  bold  and  high,  he  strode  off  toward  the  busi- 
ness part  of  the  town. 

As  he  passed  the  depot  it  occurred  to  him  that  an  open- 
ing might  exist  there.  It  would  be  a  good  post  of  observa- 
tion, and  perhaps  he  would  be  able  to  slip  home  oftener. 
So  he  stopped  and  asked  the  man  in  the  ticket-office,  blandly, 
"Do  you  wish  to  employ  a  young  man  in  connection  with 
this  depot  or  road  in  any  capacity  ?" 

The  ticket-man  stared  at  him  a  moment  through  his  win- 
dow, frowned,  and  curtly  said,  "No!"  and  then  went  on 
counting  what  seemed  to  poor  Dennis  millions  of  money. 
The  man  had  no  right  to  say  yes  or  no,  since  he  was  a  mere 
official,  occupying  his  own  little  niche^  with  no  authority 


COLD    WATER  37 

beyond.  But  an  inveterate  feud  seemed  to  exist  between 
this  man  and  the  public.  He  acted  as  if  the  world  in  gen- 
eral, instead  of  any  one  in  particular,  had  greatly  wronged 
him.  It  might  be  a  meek  woman  with  a  baby,  or  a  bold, 
red-faced  drover,  a  delicately-gloved  or  horny  hand  that 
reached  him  the  change,  but  it  was  all  the  same.  He  knitted 
his  brows,  pursed  up  his  mouth,  and  dealt  with  all  in  a 
quick,  jerking  way,  as  if  he  could  not  bear  the  sight  of 
them,  and  wanted  to  be  rid  of  them  as  soon  as  possible. 
Still  these  seem  just  the  peculiarities  that  find  favor  with 
railroad  corporations,  and  the  man  would  probably  vent  his 
spite  against  the  public  throughout  his  natural  life. 

From  him,  however,  Dennis  received  his  first  dash  of 
cold  water,  which  he  minded  but  little,  and  went  on  his 
way  with  a  good-natured  laugh  at  the  crusty  old  fellow. 

He  was  soon  in  the  business  part  of  the  city.  Applying 
at  a  large  dry-good  store,  he  was  told  that  they  wanted  a 
cash  boy;  "but  he  would  not  do;  one  a  quarter  his  size 
would  answer." 

"Then  I  will  go  where  they  want  the  other  three-fourths 
and  pay  accordingly,"  said  Dennis,  and  stalked  out. 

He  continued  applying  at  every  promising  place,  but  to 
no  purpose.  It  was  midwinter;  trade  was  dull;  and  with 
clerks  idling  about  the  shops  employers  were  in  no  mood 
to  add  to  their  number. 

At  last  he  found  a  place  where  an  assistant  book-keeper 
was  wanted.  Dennis's  heart  leaped  within  him,  but  sank 
again  as  he  remembered  how  little  he  knew  of  the  art. 
"But  I  can  learn  quickly,"  he  thought  to  himself. 

The  man  looked  carelessly  at  his  poor  little  letter,  and 
then  said,  in  a  business-like  tone,  "Show  me  a  specimen 
of  your  handwriting." 

Poor  Dennis  had  never  written  a  good  hand,  but  at  col- 
lege had  learned  to  write  a  miserable  scrawl,  in  rapidly 
taking  notes  of  lectures.  Moreover,  he  was  excited,  and 
could  not  do  himself  justice.  Even  from  his  sanguine  heart 
hope  ebbed  away:  but  he  took  the  pen  and  scratched  a  line 


38  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

or  two,  of  which  he  himself  was  ashamed.  The  man  looked 
at  them  with  an  expression  of  mild  disgust,  and  then  said, 
"Mr.  Jones,  hand  me  your  ledger." 

The  head  book-keeper  passed  the  volume  to  his  employer, 
who  showed  Dennis  entries  looking  as  from  copper-plate, 
and  quietly  remarked:  uThe  young  man  we  employ  must 
write  like  that,  and  thoroughly  understand  book-keeping. 
Good-morning,  sir." 

Dennis  walked  out,  feeling  almost  as  crestfallen  as  if  ho 
had  been  convicted  of  stealing,  but  the  noon- day  sun  was 
shining  in  the  sky,  the  streets  were  full  of  life  and  bustle, 
and  hope  revived. 

"I  shall  find  the  right  niche  before  long,"  he  said  to 
himself,  and  trudged  on. 

Some  time  after  he  entered  a  retail  dry-goods  store. 

"Yes,  they  wanted  a  young  man  there,  but  he  was  rather 
old." 

Still  the  merchant  saw  that  Dennis  was  fine- looking, 
would  appear  well  behind  the  counter,  and  make  a  taking 
salesman  with  the  ladies,  he  stopped  to  parley  a  moment 
more. 

"Do  you  understand  the  business?" 

"No,  sir;  but  I  can  soon  learn,  for  I  am  young  and 
strong. ' ' 

"Strength  is  not  what  is  needed,  but  experience.  Ours 
is  not  the  kind  of  work  for  Paddies. ' ' 

"Well,  sir,"  said  Dennis,  rather  shortly,  "I'm  not  a 
Paddy." 

The  dapper  little  retailer  frowned  slightly  at  Dennis's 
tone,  and  continued:  "You  opoke  as  if  main  strength  was 
the  principal  thing.  Have  you  had  any  experience  at  all  ?' ' 

"No,  sir." 

But  seeing  intelligence  in  tho  young  man's  face,  and 
scenting  a  sharp  bargain,  he  said,  "Why,  then,  you  would 
have  to  begin  at  the  very  beginning,  and  learn  the  name 
of  everything,  its  quality,  etc. ' ' 

"Yest  sir;  but  I  would  do  my  very  best." 


COLD    WATER  39 

"Of  course,  of  course,  but  nothing  can  take  the  place  of 
experience.  I  expect,  under  the  circumstances,  you  would 
look  for  very  little  remuneration  the  first  year?" 

"How  much  could  you  give  ?" 

The  man  named  a  sum  that  would  not  have  supported 
Dennis  alone. 

He  replied  that,  though  his  services  might  not  be  worth 
more  than  that,  he  was  so  situated  that  he  could  not  take 
a  very  small  salary. 

"Then  bring  something  besides  ignorance  to  the  mar- 
ket," said  the  man,  turning  on  his  heel. 

Dennis  was  now  hungry,  tired,  and  disappointed.  Indeed 
the  calls  of  appetite  became  so  clamorous  that  he  sought  a 
cheap  restaurant.  After  demolishing  a  huge  plate  of  such 
viands  as  could  be  had  at  little  cost,  he  sat  brooding  over 
a  cup  of  coffee  for  an  hour  or  more.  The  world  wore  a 
different  aspect  from  that  which  it  had  presented  in  the 
morning,  and  he  was  lost  in  a  sort  of  dull,  painful  wonder. 

But  the  abundant  meal  and  slight  element  of  coffee  that 
colored  the  lukewarm  water  quite  heartened  him  again.  He 
resolved  to  go  back  to  his  hotel  and  find  a  more  quiet  and 
comfortable  place  in  which  to  lodge  until  something  perma- 
nent offered.  He  made  what  he  considered  sufficient  inquiry 
as  to  the  right  direction,  and  resolved  to  save  even  the  car- 
fare of  five  cents  by  walking  the  distance. 

But  whether  he  had  not  understood  the  directions  rightly, 
or  whether,  brooding  over  the  events  of  the  day,  his  mind 
had  been  too  preoccupied  to  heed  them,  he  found  to  his 
great  disgust,  after  walking  two  or  three  miles,  that  he  had 
gone  away  from  his  destination  instead  of  toward  it.  Angry 
with  himself,  out  of  humor  with  all  the  world,  he  began  to 
give  way  to  the  latent  obstinacy  of  his  nature.  Though 
everything  went  "contrairy,"  there  was  one  thing  under  his 
control — himself — and  he  would  make  that  do  the  bidding 
of  his  will. 

Turning  on  his  heel,  he  resolved  with  dogged  resolution 
to  walk  back  the  whole  distance.  He  would  teach  himself 


40  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

a  lesson.  It  was  fine  business,  just  when  he  needed  his  wits 
so  sorely,  to  commence  blundering  in  this  style.  No  won- 
der he  had  failed  during  the  day ;  he  deserved  to  fail  in  other 
respects,  since  in  this  one  he  had  not  shown  the  good  sense 
of  a  child. 

When  people  are  "out  of  sorts,"  and  things  are  going 
wrong,  the  disposition  to  blame  somebody  or  something  is 
almost  universal.  But  we  think  that  it  will  be  found  a  safe 
general  rule,  that  the  nobler  the  nature,  the  less  worthy  of 
blame,  the  greater  the  tendency  to  blame  self  rather  than 
anything  else.  Poor  Dennis  had  no  great  cause  for  bitter 
reproaches,  and  yet  he  plodded  on  with  an  intense  feeling 
of  self-disgust. 

To  think  that  after  New-England  schools  and  three  years 
in  college  he  should  write  such  a  hand  and  have  no  definite 
knowledge  of  book-keeping!  "What  have  I  learned,  I'd 
like  to  know?"  he  muttered.  Then  to  go  and  lose  his 
way  like  a  country  bumpkin!  and  he  gnawed  his  lips  with 
vexation. 

The  street-cars  glided  often  and  invitingly  by,  but  he 
would  not  even  look  at  them. 

At  last,  foot-sore  and  fairly  aching  with  cold  and  fatigue, 
he  reached  the  little  hotel,  which  appeared  more  miserable, 
obscure,  and  profane  than  ever.  But  a  tempting  fiend 
seemed  to  have  got  into  the  gin  and  whiskey  bottles  be- 
hind the  red-nosed  bartender.  To  his  morbid  fancy  and 
eyes,  half-blinded  with  wind  and  cold,  they  appeared  to 
wink,  beckon,  and  suggest:  "Drink  and  be  merry;  drink 
and  forget  your  troubles.  We  can  make  you  feel  as  rich 
and  glorious  as  a  prince,  in  ten  minutes. ' ' 

For  the  first  time  in  his  life  Dennis  felt  a  strong  tempta- 
tion to  drink  for  the  sake  of  the  effects.  When  was  a  man 
ever  weak  that  the  devil  did  not  charge  down  upon  him  ? 

But  the  evil  and  ruin  wrought  in  one  case  proved  an- 
other's safeguard,  for  the  door  opened  and  a  miserable 
wreck  of  a  man  entered.  As  Dennis  looked  at  his  blotched, 
sodden  face,  trembling  hand,  shuffling  gait,  and  general  air 


COLD    WATER  41 

of  wretchedness,  embodying  and  suggesting  the  worst  ills 
of  humanity,  he  decided  not  to  drink  for  the  sake  of  the 
effects. 

Then  came  another  rush  of  self-disgust  that  he  had  ever 
entertained  such  a  temptation,  and  he  flung  himself  off  sup- 
perless  to  bed. 

As  he  bowed  that  night  he  could  not  pray  as  usual. 
For  anger,  passion  with  one's  self,  as  well  as  with  any  one 
else,  renders  true  prayer  impossible.  But  lie  went  through 
the  form,  and  then  wrapped  himself  up  as  before.  The 
wearied  body  soon  mastered  the  perturbed  mind,  and  he  fell 
into  a  heavy  sleep  that  lasted  till  morning. 


BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  Y 
A    HORNET'S   NEST 

DENNIS  awoke  greatly  refreshed  and  strengthened. 
For  half  an  hour  he  lay  quietly  thinking  over  the 
scenes  of  the  preceding  day;  something  of  his  old 
anger  returned,  but  he  compressed  his  lips,  and,  with  a  face 
expressing  the  most  resolute  purpose,  determined  that  the 
day  before  him  should  tell  a  different  story.  Every  faculty 
and  energy  he  possessed  should  be  skilfully  bent  to  the  at 
tainment  of  his  objects.  Wise  deliberation  should  precede 
everything.  He  would  write  a  few  lines  to  his  mother,  de- 
cide as  to  a  lodging-place,  and  then  seek  better  success  in 
another  part  of  the  city.  He  went  to  the  bar  and  inquired 
as  to  his  bill,  and  found  that  so  far  as  bed  and  meals  were 
concerned,  such  as  they  were,  he  could  not  find  anything 
cheaper  in  the  city,  the  house  evidently  not  depending  on 
these  for  its  revenue.  Disgusted  as  he  was  with  his  sur- 
roundings, he  resolved  to  lose  no  time  in  looking  for  a  new 
boarding-place,  but,  after  writing  to  his  mother,  to  start  off 
at  once  in  search  of  something  permanent.  He  was  in  no 
mood  to  consult  personal  wishes,  and  the  saving  of  time  and 
money  settled  the  question. 

Where  should  he  write?  There  was  no  place  save  a 
desk  at  the  end  of  the  bar.  Looking  askance  at  the  half- 
filled,  villanous-smelling  bottle  at  his  elbow,  he  wrote  in  a 
hand  stiff  and  unnatural  (for  he  had  resolved  to  change  his 
scrawl  to  a  business  hand  at  once),  the  following  note: 

"CHICAGO,  ILL.,  Jan.  10th. 

"DEAR  MOTHER — I  arrived  safely,  and  am  very  well.  I  did  not,  yesterday, 
find  a  situation  suited  to  my  taste,  but  expect  better  success  to-day.  I  am  just 
on  the  point  of  starting  out  on  my  search,  and  when  settled  will  write  you  full 
particulars.  Many  kisses  for  yourself  and  the  little  girls.  Your  affectionate 
son,  DENNIS." 


A    HORNET'S   NEST  43 

"There!  there  is  nothing  in  that  to  worry  mother,  and 
soon  I  shall  have  good  news  for  her. ' '  (If  he  had  seen  its 
reception,  he  would  have  learned  his  mistake.  The  intui- 
tions of  love  are  keen,  and  this  formal  negative  note  in  the 
constrained  hand  told  more  of  his  disappointment  than  any 
words  could  have  done.  While  he  knew  it  not,  his  mother 
was  suffering  with  him.  In  reply  she  wrote  a  letter  full  of 
general  sympathy,  intending  to  be  more  specific  when  he 
gave  her  his  confidence.) 

Dennis  folded  the  letter  most  carefully  and  mailed  it — 
for  he  was  now  doing  the  least  thing  with  the  utmost  preci- 
sion— with  the  air  of  one  who  meant  to  find  out  the  right 
thing  to  do,  and  then  to  do  it  to  a  hair- breadth.  Nothing 
should  go  wrong  that  day.  So  at  an  early  hour  he  again 
sallied  forth. 

Not  far  from  the  hotel  there  was  a  new  grocery  store 
about  to  be  opened  by  two  young  men,  formerly  clerks, 
but  now  setting  up  for  themselves.  They  stood  at  the 
door  receiving  a  cart-load  of  goods  as  Dennis  approached. 
He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  ask  at  every  opportunity,  and 
to  take  the  first  thing  that  promised  fairly;  he  would  also 
be  very  polite.  Touching  his  hat  to  the  young  men — a 
little  act  pleasing  to  them  in  their  newly  acquired  dignity 
as  heads  of  a  firm  which  as  yet  had  no  subordinates — Den- 
nis asked  if  they  would  need  any  assistance.  Graciously 
replying  to  his  salutations,  they  answered,  yes;  they  wanted 
a  young  man. 

Dennis  explained  that  he  was  from  the  country,  and 
showed  the  ministerial  letter.  The  young  grocers  looked 
wise  over  it,  seemed  pleased,  said  they  wanted  a  young 
fellow  from  the  country,  that  was  not  up  to  city  tricks. 
Chicago  was  a  hard  place  on  young  men — spoiled  most  of 
them.  Glad  he  was  a  member  of  the  church.  They  were 
not,  but  believed  a  man  must  be  mighty  good  to  be  one. 
As  the  young  man  they  hired  must  sleep  in  the  store,  they 
wanted  one  they  could  trust,  and  would  prefer  a  church 
member. 


44  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

The  salary  they  offered  was  not  large,  but  pretty  fair  in 
view  of  his  having  so  much  to  learn,  and  it  was  intimated, 
that  if  business  was  good,  and  he  suited,  it  would  be  in- 
creased. The  point  uppermost  in  their  minds  was  to  find 
some  one  with  whom  they  could  trust  their  store  and  goods, 
and  this  young  man  from  the  country,  with  a  letter  from  a 
minister,  seemed  a  godsend. 

They  engaged  him,  but  just  as  he  was  starting,  with 
heart  swelling  with  self-satisfaction  and  joy,  one  of  the 
firm  asked,  carelessly,  " Where  are  you  staying?" 

"At  Gavin's  Hotel." 

The  man  turned  sharply,  and  looked  most  suspiciously 
at  him,  and  then  at  his  partner,  who  gave  a  low  whistle  of 
surprise,  and  also  eyed  the  young  man  for  a  moment 
askance.  Then  the  men  stepped  aside,  and  there  was  a 
brief  whispered  consultation.  Dennis's  heart  sank  within 
him.  He  saw  that  something  was  wrong,  but  what,  he  had 
not  the  least  idea.  The  elder  member  of  the  embryo  firm 
now  stepped  up  and  said,  decidedly,  "Good-morning,  young 
man ;  we  shall  not  need  your  services. ' ' 

"What  do  you  mean?"  cried  Dennis,  in  a  voice  of 
mingled  dismay  and  indignation. 

The  man's  face  was  growing  red  with  anger,  but  he 
said,  coldly,  "You  had  better  move  on.  We  under- 
stand." 

"But  /don't  understand,  your  course  toward  me  is  most 
unjust." 

"Look  here,  young  man,  we  are  too  old  birds  to  be 
caught  by  any  such  light  chaff  as  you  have  about  you. 
You  are  a  pretty  church  member,  you  are!  You  are  a 
smart  one,  you  are;  nice  boy,  just  from  the  country;  sup- 
pose you  do  not  know  that  Gavin's  Hotel  is  the  worst  gam- 
bling hole  in  the  city,  and  every  other  man  that  goes  there  a 
known  thief.  Come,  you  had  better  move  on  if  you  do  not 
want  to  get  into  trouble.  You  will  make  nothing  here. ' ' 

"But  I  tell  you,  gentlemen — "  cried  Dennis,  eagerly. 

"  You  may  tell  what  you  please.      We  tell  you  that  we 


A   HORNET'S   NEST  45 

would  not  believe  any  one  from  that  den  under  oath.     Now 
you  leave!" 

The  last  words  were  loud  and  threatening.  The  atten- 
tion of  passers-by  was  drawn  toward  them,  and  Dennis  saw 
that  further  words  were  useless.  In  the  minds  of  shrewd 
but  narrow  business  men,  not  over- honest  themselves,  more 
acquainted  with  the  trickery  of  the  world  than  with  its  vir- 
tues, suspicion  against  any  one  is  fatal,  and  most  assuredly 
so  against  a  stranger  with  appearances  unfavorable. 

With  heart  wellnigh  bursting  with  anger,  disappoint- 
ment, and  shame,  Dennis  hastened  away.  He  had  been 
regarded  as  a  thief,  or  at  best  a  blackleg,  seeking  the  posi- 
tion for  some  sinister  purpose.  This  was  the  opening  scene 
of  the  day  on  which  he  had  determined  that  no  mistakes 
should  be  made,  and  here  at  the  outset  he  had  allowed  him- 
self to  be  identified  with  a  place  of  notorious  ill-repute. 

Beaching  the  hotel,  he  rushed  upstairs,  got  his  trunk, 
and  then  turned  fiercely  on  the  red-nosed  bartender — "Why 
did  you  not  tell  me  the  character  of  this  place?" 

"What  kind  of  a  place  is  it?'7  asked  that  functionary, 
coolly,  arms  akimbo. 

"You  know  well  enough.  You  knew  I  was  not  one  of 
your  sort." 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  that  this  is  a  bad  place,  do 
you?"  said  the  barkeeper,  in  mock  solemnity. 

"Yes,  the  worst  in  Chicago.     There  is  your  money." 

"Hold  on  here,  my  small  chicken;  there  is  some  money, 
but  not  enough  by  a  jugful.  I  want  five  dollars  out  of  you 
before  you  take  that  trunk  off." 

"Why,  this  is  sheer  robbery,"  exclaimed  Dennis. 

"Oh,  no;  just  keeping  up  the  reputation  of  the  house. 
You  say  it  is  the  worst  in  Chicago:  must  try  and  keep  up 
our  reputation." 

"Little  fear  of  that;  I  will  not  pay  it;"  and  Dennis 
started  for  his  trunk. 

"Here,  let  that  trunk  alone;  and  if  yer  don't  give  me 
that  five  dollars  cussed  quick,  I'll  put  a  head  on  yer;"  and 


46  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

he  of  the  red  nose  put  his  hands  on  the  bar  in  readiness  to 
spring  over. 

"I  say,  young  feller,"  said  a  good-natured  loafer  stand- 
ing by,  *4you  had  better  gin  him  the  five  dollars;  for 
Barney  is  the  worst  one  in  all  Chicago  to  put  a  head  on  a 
man. ' ' 

41  And  will  you  stand  by  and  see  this  outrage  ?"  said  Den- 
nis, appealing  to  him. 

"Oh,  gosh!"  said  the  man,  "I've  got  quarrels  'nough  of 
my  own  without  getting  my  head  broke  for  fellers  I  don't 
know." 

Dennis  was  almost  speechless  from  indignation.  Con- 
scious of  strength,  his  strong  impulse  for  a  moment  was  to 
spring  at  the  throat  of  the  barkeeper  and  vent  his  rage  on 
him.  There  is  a  latent  tiger  in  every  man.  But  a  hand 
seemed  to  hold  him  back,  and  a  sober  second  thought  came 
over  him.  What!  Dennis  Fleet,  the  son  of  Ethel  Fleet, 
brawling,  fighting  in  a  bar-room,  a  gambling-den,  and  going 
out  to  seek  a  situation  that  required  confidence  and  fair-ap- 
pearing, all  blackened,  bruised,  and  bleeding!  As  the  truth 
flashed  upon  him  in  strong  revulsion  of  feeling  he  fairly 
turned  pale  and  sick. 

"There's  the  money,"  said  he,  hoarsely,  "and  Grod  for- 
give you." 

In  a  moment  he  had  taken  his  trunk  and  was  gone. 
The  barkeeper  stared  after  him,  and  then  looked  at  the 
money  with  a  troubled  and  perplexed  face. 

"Wai,"  said  he,  "I'm  used  enough  to  havin'  folk  ask 
God  to  damn  me,  but  I'm  blessed  if  I  ever  had  one  ask 
Him  to  forgive  me,  before.  I  be  hanged,"  said  he,  after 
a  moment,  as  the  thought  grew  upon  him — "I  be  hanged 
if  I  wouldn't  give  him  back  the  money  if  he  hadn't  gone 
so  quick." 

With  heart  full  of  shame  and  bitterness,  Dennis  hastened 
down  the  street.  At  the  corner  he  met  a  policeman,  and 
told  him  his  story.  All  the  satisfaction  he  got  was,  "You 
ought  not  to  go  to  such  a  place.  But  you're  lucky  if  they 


A    HORNET'S   NEST  47 

only  took  five  dollars  from  you;  they  don't  let  off  many  as 
easy  as  that." 

"Can  I  have  no  redress?" 

"Now  look  here;  it's  a  pretty  ticklish  thing  to  interfere 
with  them  fellers.  It'll  cost  you  plaguy  sight  more'n  that, 
and  blood,  too,  like  enough.  If  you'll  take  my  advice,  you 
won't  stir  up  that  hornet's  nest." 


48  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER   VI 
"STARVE    THEN!" 

DENNIS  now  followed  the  natural  impulse  to  go  to 
some  distant  part  of  the  city,  entirely  away  from 
the  region  that  had  become  so  hateful  to  him. 
Putting  the  trunk  on  the  front  of  a  street-car,  he  rode  on 
till  he  was  in  the  heart  of  the  south- side  district,  the  great 
business  centre.  He  took  his  trunk  into  a  roomy  hardware 
store,  and  asked  if  he  might  leave  it  there  a  while.  Receiv- 
ing a  good-natured  permission,  he  next  started  off  in  search 
of  a  quiet,  cheap  boarding-place.  His  heart  was  heavy,  and 
yet  he  felt  thankful  to  have  escaped  as  he  had,  for  the  thought 
of  what  might  have  been  his  experience  if  Barney  had  tried 
to  fulfil  his  threat  sickened  him.  The  rough  was  as  strong 
as  he,  and  scenes  of  violence  were  his  delight  and  daily  ex- 
perience. He  rather  gloried  in  a  black  eye,  for  he  always 
gave  two  in  exchange,  and  his  own  bruised,  swollen  mem- 
ber paved  the  way  gracefully  for  the  telling  of  his  exploits, 
as  it  awakened  inquiry  from  the  lesser  lights  among  whom 
he  shone.  But  what  would  Dennis  have  done  among  the 
merchants  with  * 'a  head  on  him,"  as  the  barkeeper  under- 
stood the  phrase  ?  He  would  have  had  to  return  home,  and 
that  he  felt  would  be  worse  than  death.  In  fact,  he  had 
come  nearer  to  a  desperate  struggle  than  he  knew,  for  Bar- 
ney rarely  resisted  so  inviting  an  opportunity  to  indulge  his 
pugilistic  turn,  and  had  he  not  seen  the  policeman  going  by 
just  at  that  time,  there  would  have  been  no  idle  threats  in 
the  case. 

Dennis  set  his  teeth  with  dogged  resolution,  determined 


"STARVE    THEN!"  49 

if  necessary,  to  persevere  in  his  search  till  he  dropped  in 
the  street.  But  as  he  remembered  that  he  had  less  than 
five  dollars  left,  and  no  prospect  of  earning  another,  his 
heart  grew  like  lead. 

He  spent  several  weary  hours  in  the  vain  search  for  a 
boarding-house.  He  had  little  to  guide  him  save  short  an- 
swers from  policemen.  The  places  were  either  too  expen- 
sive, or  so  coarse  and  low  that  he  could  not  bring  himself 
to  endure  them.  In  some  cases  he  detected  that  they  were 
accompanied  by  worse  evils  than  gambling.  Almost  in 
despair,  tired,  and  very  hungry  (for  severe  indeed  must 
be  the  troubles  that  will  affect  the  appetite  of  healthful 
youth  on  a  cold  winter  day),  he  stopped  at  a  small  Ger- 
man restaurant  and  hotel.  A  round-faced,  jolly  Teuton 
served  him  with  a  large  plate  of  cheap  viands,  which  he 
devoured  so  quickly  that  the  man,  when  asked  for  more, 
stared  at  him  for  a  moment,  and  then  stolidly  obeyed. 

"What  do  you  ask  for  a  small  room  and  bed  for  a 
night?"  said  Dennis. 

"Zwei  shillen,"  said  the  waiter,  with  a  grin;  "dot  ish, 
if  you  don't  vant  as  pig  ped  as  dinner.  Ve  haf  zwei  shillen 
for  bed,  and  zwei  shillen  for  efery  meal — von  dollar  a  day — 
sheap!" 

The  place  was  comparatively  clean.  A  geranium  or  two 
bloomed  in  the  window,  and  lager  instead  of  fiery  whiskey 
seemed  the  principal  beverage  vended.  Dennis  went  out 
and  made  inquiries,  and  every  one  in  the  neighborhood 
spoke  of  it  as  a  quiet,  respectable  place,  though  frequented 
only  by  laboring  people.  "That  is  nothing  against  it," 
thought  Dennis.  "I  will  venture  to  stay  there  for  a  night 
or  two,  for  I  must  lose  no  more  time  in  looking  for  a 
situation." 

He  took  his  trunk  there,  and  then  spent  the  rest  of  the 
day  in  unavailing  search.  He  found  nothing  that  gave  any 
promise  at  all.  In  the  evening  he  went  to  a  large  hotel  and 
looked  over  the  files  of  papers.  He  found  a  few  advertise- 
ments for  clerks  and  experts  of  various  kinds,  but  more 

ROE— Y— 3 


60  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

from  those  seeking  places.  But  he  noted  down  everything 
hopeful,  and  resolved  that  he  would  examine  the  morning 
papers  by  daylight  for  anything  new  in  that  line,  and  be 
the  first  on  hand.  His  new  quarters,  though  plain  and 
meagre,  were  at  least  clean.  Too  weary  to  think  or  even 
to  feel  more  than  a  dull  ache  in  his  heart,  he  slept  heav- 
ily till  the  dawn  of  the  following  day.  Poor  fellow!  it 
seemed  to  him  that  he  had  lived  years  in  those  two  days. 

He  was  up  by  daylight,  and  found  a  few  more  adver- 
tisements that  looked  as  if  they  might  lead  to  something. 
As  early  as  it  was  possible  to  see  the  parties,  he  was  on 
the  ground,  but  others  were  there  as  soon  as  himself. 
They  had  the  advantage  of  some  knowledge  and  experi- 
ence in  the  duties  required,  and  this  decided  the  question. 
Some  spoke  kindly,  and  suggested  that  he  was  better  fitted 
for  teaching  than  for  business. 

"But  where  am  I  to  find  a  position  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  when  every  place  is  filled  ?"  asked  Dennis.  "It  might 
be  weeks  before  I  could  get  anything  to  do,  and  I  must  have 
employment  at  once. " 

They  were  sorry,  hoped  he  would  do  well,  turned  away, 
and  went  on  doing  well  for  themselves;  but  the  majority 
merely  satisfied  themselves  that  he  would  not  answer  their 
purpose,  and  bade  him  a  brief,  business-like  good-morning. 
And  yet  the  fine  young  face,  so  troubled  and  anxious, 
haunted  a  good  many  of  those  who  summarily  dismissed 
him.  But  "business  is  business." 

The  day  passed  in  fruitless  inquiry.  Now  and  then  he 
seemed  on  the  point  of  succeeding,  but  only  disappointment 
resulted.  There  were  at  that  season  of  the  year  few  situa- 
tions offering  where  a  salary  sufficient  for  maintenance  was 
paid,  and  for  these  skilled  laborers  were  required.  Dennis 
possessed  no  training  for  any  one  calling  save  perhaps  that 
of  teacher.  He  had  merely  the  fragment  of  a  good  general 
education,  tending  toward  one  of  the  learned  professions. 
He  had  fine  abilities,  and  undoubtedly  would  in  time  have 
stood  high  as  a  lawyer.  But  now  that  he  was  suddenly 


"STARVE    THEN!"  51 

called  upon  to  provide  bread  for  himself  and  those  he 
loved,  there  was  not  a  single  thing  of  which  he  could  say, 
"I  understand  this,  sir,  and  can  give  you  satisfaction." 

He  knew  that  if  he  could  get  a  chance  at  almost  any- 
thing, he  could  soon  learn  enough  to  make  himself  more 
useful  than  the  majority  employed,  for  few  had  his  will  and 
motive  to  work.  But  the  point  was  to  find  some  one  who 
would  pay  sufficient  for  his  own  and  his  mother's  support 
while  he  learned. 

It  is  under  just  such  circumstances  that  so  many  men, 
and  especially  women,  make  shipwreck.  Thrown  suddenly 
upon  their  own  resources,  they  bring  to  the  great  labor- 
market  of  the  world  general  intelligence,  and  also  general 
ignorance.  With  a  smattering  of  almost  everything,  they 
do  not  know  practically  how  to  do  one  thing  well.  Skilled 
hands,  though  backed  by  neither  heart  nor  brains,  push  them 
aside.  Take  the  young  men  or  the  young  women  of  any 
well-to-do  town  or  village,  and  make  them  suddenly  de- 
pendent upon  their  own  efforts,  and  how  many  could  com- 
pete in  any  one  thing  with  those  already  engaged  in  supply- 
ing the  market?  And  yet  just  such  helpless  young  crea- 
tures are  every  day  compelled  to  shift  for  themselves.  If 
to  these  unfortunates  the  paths  of  honest  industry  seem 
hedged  and  thorny,  not  so  those  of  sin.  They  are  easy 
enough  at  first,  if  any  little  difficulty  with  conscience  can 
be  overcome;  and  the  devil,  and  fallen  humanity  doing  his 
work,  stand  ready  to  push  the  wavering  into  them. 

At  the  close  of  the  next  day,  spent  in  weary  search, 
Dennis  met  a  temptation  to  which  many  would  have  yielded. 
A.S  a  last  resort  he  had  been  going  around  among  the  hotels, 
willing  to  take  even  the  situation  of  porter,  if  nothing  better 
offered.  The  day  was  fast  closing,  when,  worn  out  and  de- 
jected, he  entered  a  first-class  house,  and  made  his  usual 
inquiry.  The,  proprietor  looked  at  him  for  a  moment, 
slapped  him  on  the  back,  and  said:  "  Yes,  you  are  the  man 
I  want,  I  reckon.  Do  you  drink?  No!  might  have  known 
that  from  your  face.  Don't  want  a  man  that  drinks  for  this 


52  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

place.  Come  along  with  me,  then.  Will  give  you  two  and 
a  half  a  day  if  you  suit,  and  pay  you  every  night.  I  pay 
my  help  promptly;  they  ain't  near  so  apt  to  steal  from  you 
then." 

And  the  man  hurried  away,  followed  by  Dennis  with 
beating  heart  and  flushed,  wondering  face.  Descending  a 
flight  of  stairs,  they  entered  a  brilliantly  lighted  basement, 
which  was  nothing  less  than  a  large,  elegantly  arranged  bar- 
room, with  card  and  lunch-tables,  and  easy-chairs  for  the 
guests  to  smoke  and  tipple  in  at  their  leisure.  All  along 
one  side  of  this  room,  resplendent  with  cut  glass  and  pol- 
ished silver,  ran  the  bar.  The  light  fell  warm  and  mellow 
on  the  various  kinds  of  liquor,  that  were  so  arranged  as  to 
be  most  tempting  to  the  thirsty  souls  frequenting  the  place. 

Stepping  up  to  the  bulky  man  behind  the  bar  the  landlord 
said:  " There,  Mr.  Swig,  is  a  young  man  who  will  fill  capi- 
tally the  place  of  the  chap  we  dismissed  to-day  for  getting 
tight  You  may  bet  your  life  from  his  face  that  he  don't 
drink.  You  can  break  him  in  in  a  few  days,  and  you  won't 
want  a  better  assistant.'1 

For  a  moment  a  desperate  wish  passed  through  Dennis's 
mind,  "Oh,  that  wrong  were  right!"  Then,  indignant  with 
himself,  he  spoke  up,  firmly — "I  think  I  have  a  word  to  say 
in  this  matter." 

"Well,  say  on,  then;  what's  the  trouble ?" 

"I  cannot  do  this  kind  of  work." 

"You  will  find  plenty  harder." 

"None  harder  for  one  believing  as  I  do.  I  will  starve 
before  I  will  do  this  work." 

The  man  stared  at  him  for  a  moment,  and  then  coolly 
replied,  "Starve  then!"  and  turned  on  his  heel  and  walked 
away. 

Dennis  also  rushed  from  the  place,  followed  by  the 
coarse,  jeering  laugh  of  those  who  witnessed  the  scene. 
In  his  morbid,  suffering  state  their  voices  seemed  those 
of  mocking  demons. 

The  night  had  now  fallen.     He  was  too  tired  and  dis- 


"STARVE    THEN!"  53 

couraged  to  look  any  further.  "Wearily  lie  plodded  up  the 
street,  facing  the  bitter  blast  filled  with  snow  that  had  begun 
to  fall. 

This  then  was  the  verdict  of  the  world—* '  Starve  I1 '  This 
was  the  only  prospect  it  offered — that  same  brave  world 
which  had  so  smilingly  beckoned  him  on  to  great  achieve- 
ments and  unbounded  success  but  a  few  days  since — 
44 Starve!"  Every  blast  that  swept  around  the  corners 
howled  in  his  ears,  "  Starve !"  Every  warmly  clad  person 
hurrying  unheedingly  by  seemed  to  say  by  his  indifference, 
4 'Starve!  who  cares?  there  is  no  place  for  you,  nothing  for 
you  to  do." 

The  hard,  stern  resolution  of  the  past  few  days,  not  to 
yield  an  inch,  to  persist  in  hewing  his  way  through  every 
difficulty,  began  to  flag.  His  very  soul  seemed  crushed 
within  him.  Even  upon  the  threshold  of  his  life,  in  his 
strong,  joyous  youth,  the  world  had  become  to  him  what 
it  literally  was  that  night,  a  cold,  wintry,  stormy  place, 
with  a  black,  lowering  sky  and  hard,  frozen  earth. 

His  father's  old  temptation  recurred  to  him  with  sudden 
and  great  power.  "  Per  haps  father  was  right,"  he  mused. 
41  God  was  against  him,  and  is  also  against  me,  his  son. 
Does  He  not  visit  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  chil- 
dren unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation?  Not  but  that 
He  will  save  us  at  last,  if  we  ask  Him,  but  there  seems  some 
great  wrong  that  must  be  severely  punished  here.  Or  else 
if  God  does  not  care  much  about  our  present  life,  thinking 
only  of  the  hereafter,  there  must  be  some  blind  fate  or  luck 
that  crushes  some  and  lifts  up  others." 

Thus  Dennis,  too  sad  and  morbid  to  take  a  just  view 
of  anything,  plodded  on  till  he  reached  his  boarding-place, 
and  stealing  in  as  if  he  had  no  business  to  be  there,  or  any- 
where else,  sat  down  in  a  dusky  corner  behind  the  stove, 
and  was  soon  lost  to  surrounding  life  in  his  own  miserable 
thoughts. 


M  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  VII 

A     GOOD     SAMARITAN 

DENNIS  was  too  good  a  Christian,  and  had  received 
too  deep  a  lesson  in  his  father's  case,  to  become 
bitter,  angry,  and  defiant,  even  if  he  had  believed 
that  God  was  against  him.  He  would  have  felt  that  it  was 
simply  his  duty  to  submit — to  endure  patiently.  Somehow 
until  to-day  his  heart  had  refused  to  believe  that  God  could 
be  against  any  of  His  creatures.  In  fact,  it  was  his  general 
impression  that  God  had  everything  to  do  with  his  being  a 
good  Christian,  but  very  little  with  his  getting  a  good  place. 
The  defect  in  his  religion,  and  that  of  his  mother,  too,  was 
that  both  separated  the  spiritual  life  of  the  soul  too  widely 
from  the  present  life  with  its  material,  yet  essential,  cares 
and  needs.  At  this  point  they,  like  multitudes  of  others, 
fell  short  of  their  full  privilege,  and  enjoyment  of  God's 
goodness.  His  mother  had  cheered  and  sustained  her  hard 
lot  by  hopes  and  visions  of  the  better  life  beyond — by  an- 
ticipating joys  to  come.  She  had  never  fully  learned  how 
God's  love,  like  the  sunlight,  could  shine  upon  and  brighten 
the  thorny,  rocky  way,  and  cause  the  thorns  to  blossom,  and 
delicate  fragrant  flowers  to  grow  in  the  crevices  and  bloom 
in  shaded  nooks  among  the  sharp  stones.  She  must  wait 
for  her  consolation.  She  must  look  out  of  her  darkness  k> 
the  light  that  shone  through  the  portals  of  the  tomb,  forget- 
ting that  God  caused  His  servants  to  sing  at  midnight,  in 
the  inner  prison,  the  deepest  dungeon,  though  scourged  and 
bleeding. 

Unconsciously  her  son   had  imbibed  the  same  ideas. 


A    GOOD   SAMARITAN  55 

Most  devoutly  he  asked  every  day  to  be  kept  from  sin, 
that  he  might  grow  in  the  Christian  life;  but  he  did  not 
ask  or  expect,  save  in  a  vague,  general  way,  that  nelp  which 
a  wise,  good,  earthly  father  would  give  to  a  young,  inexpe- 
rienced child,  struggling  with  the  hard,  practical  difficulties 
of  this  world.  As  the  days  grew  darker  and  more  full  of 
disappointment,  he  had  asked  with  increasing  earnestness 
that  he  might  be  kept  from  sin — from  falling  before  the 
many  and  peculiar  temptations  that  assailed  him;  and  we 
have  seen  how  God  answered  his  prayer,  and  kept  him  where 
so  many  would  have  fallen.  But  God  meant  to  show  him 
that  His  goodness  extended  further  than  he  thought,  and 
that  He  cared  for  His  children's  well-being  now  as  truly 
as  in  the  hereafter,  when  He  gathered  them  home  into  His 
immediate  presence.  But  Dennis  could  not  see  this  now. 
As  far  as  he  thought  at  all  on  the  subject,  he  had  the  vague 
feeling  that  God  was  either  trying  his  faith  or  meting  out 
some  righteous  judgment,  and  he  must  do  the  best  he  could, 
and  only  see  to  it  that  he  did  not  sin  and  give  way  morally. 

Yet,  in  the  thick  night  of  his  earthly  prospects,  Dennis 
still  loved  and  trusted  God.  He  reasoned  justly,  that  if  at 
last  brought  to  such  a  place  as  heaven,  no  matter  what  he 
suffered  here,  he  had  only  cause  for  unbounded  gratitude. 
And  he  felt  sure  that  all  would  be  right  in  the  end,  but 
now  feared  that  his  life  would  be  like  his  father's,  a  tissue 
of  disappointments,  and  that  he,  an  unsuccessful  voyager, 
storm-tossed  and  shipwrecked,  would  be  thrown  upon  the 
heavenly  shore  by  some  dark-crested  billow  of  misfortune. 

Thus  Dennis  sat  lost  in  gloomy  musings,  but  too  wearied 
in  mind  and  body  to  follow  any  line  of  thought  long.  A 
few  stern  facts  kept  looming  up  before  him,  like  rocks  on 
which  a  ship  is  drifting.  He  had  less  than  a  dollar  in  his 
pocket.  It  was  Friday  night.  If  he  did  not  get  anything 
to  do  on  Saturday,  how  was  he  going  to  live  through  Sunday 
and  the  days  that  followed?  Then  his  dependent  mother 
and  sisters  rose  up  before  him.  They  seemed  to  his  morbid 
fancy  hungry  and  cold,  and  their  famine-pinched  faces  full 


66  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

of  reproach.  His  head  bowed  lower,  and  he  became  the  very 
picture  of  dejection. 

He  was  startled  by  a  big,  hearty  voice  at  his  side,  ex- 
claiming: "What  makes  yer  so  down  in  the  mouth  ?  Come, 
take  a  drink,  and  cheer  up!" 

Kaising  his  eyes,  he  saw  a  round,  red  face,  like  a  harvest 
moon,  shining  full  upon  him.  It  was  somewhat  kindly  in 
its  expression,  in  keeping  with  the  words.  Rough  as  was 
the  courtesy,  it  went  straight  to  the  lonely,  discouraged 
heart  of  the  young  man,  and  with  moistened  eyes  he  said, 
4tl  thank  you  for  speaking  to  me  in  a  tone  that  has  a  little 
human  touch  in  it,  for  the  last  man  that  spoke  to  me  left  an 
echo  in  my  ear  that  I  would  gladly  get  out  of  it. ' ' 

1 '  Bad  luck  to  him,  then !  Give  us  yer  hand ;  there !' '  with 
a  grip  like  a  vise.  "Bill  Cronk  never  went  back  on  a  man 
he  took  to.  I  tell  yer  what,  stranger,"  said  he,  becoming 
confidential,  "when  I  saw  yer  glowering  and  blinking  here 
in  the  corner  as  if  yer  was  listening  to  yer  own  funeral  ser- 
mon, I  be if  I  could  take  a  comfortable  drink.  Come, 

now,  take  a  good  swig  of  old  rye,  and  see  how  things  will 
mellow  up." 

Our  good  Samaritan  in  this  case  was  a  very  profane  and 
disreputable  one,  as  many  are  in  this  medley  world.  He 
had  a  great,  kindly  nature,  that  was  crawling  and  grovel- 
ling in  all  sorts  of  low,  unseemly  places,  instead  of  growing 
straight  up  toward  heaven. 

"I  hope  you  will  think  me  none  the  less  friendly  if  I 
decline,"  said  Dennis.  "I  would  drink  with  you  as  quick 
as  with  any  man  living,  but  it  is  a  thing  1  never  do. " 

"Oh,  you're  temperance,  are  yer?  Well,  I  don't  think 
none  the  wuss  of  yer  for  standing  by  yer  colors.  Between 
us,  it  would  be  better  for  me  if  I  was  a  little  more  so.  Hang 
it  all!  I  take  a  drop  too  much  now  and  then.  But  what  is 
a  fellow  to  do,  roughing  it  up  and  down  the  world  like  me  ? 
I  should  often  get  lonely  and  mope  in  the  corner  as  you  did, 
if  I  didn't  get  up  steam.  When  1  am  down  in  the  mouth  I 
take  a  drink  to  'liven  me  up,  and  when  I  feel  good  I  take 


A    GOOD   SAMARITAN  57 

a  drink  to  make  me  feel  better.  When  I  wouldn't  take  a 
drink  on  my  own  hook,  I  meet  somebody  that  I'd  ought  to 
drink  with.  It  is  astonishing  how  many  occasions  there  are 
to  drink,  'specially  when  a  man's  travelling,  like  me." 

"No  fear  but  what  the  devil  will  make  occasions  enough, ' ' 
said  Dennis. 

41  What  has  the  devil  got  to  do  with  it?"  asked  the  man, 
gruffly. 

Just  then  the  miserable  wretch  entered  who,  appearing 
opportunely  in  Gavin's  Hotel,  had  cured  Dennis  of  his  de- 
sire to  drink,  when  weary  and  despondent,  for  the  sake  of 
the  effects.  For  a  moment  they  looked  at  the  blear-eyed, 
trembling  wreck  of  a  man,  and  then  Dennis  asked,  "Had 
God  any  hand  in  making  that  man  what  he  is?" 

"I  should  say  not,"  said  Bill  Cronk,  emphatically. 

"Well,  I  should  say  the  devil  had,"  said  Dennis;  "and 
there  behind  the  bar  are  the  means  used — the  best  tool  he 
has,  it  seems  to  me;  for  with  it  he  gets  hold  of  men  with 
some  heart  and  soul  in  them,  like  you." 

The  man  winced  under  the  words  that  both  conscience 
and  experience  told  him  were  true;  at  the  same  time  he  was 
propitiated  by  Dennis's  good  opinion  of  him.  He  gave  a 
big,  good-natured  laugh,  slapped  Dennis  on  the  shoulder, 
and  said:  "Wai,  stranger,  p'raps  you're  right.  'Tain't 
every  temperance  lecturer  though  that  has  an  awful  ex- 
ample come  in  just  at  the  right  time  so  slick.  But  you've 
stood  by  yer  colors,  and  we  won't  quarrel.  Tell  us,  now, 
if  it  ain't  private,  what  you're  so  chopfallen  about." 

Dennis  told  his  story,  as  grateful  for  this  rough  sympathy 
as  a  thirsty  traveller  would  be  in  finding  a  spring  though 
surrounded  by  thorns  and  rocks. 

The  round,  jolly  face  actually  grew  long  and  serious 
through  interest  in  the  young  man's  tribulations. 

After  scratching  a  shaggy  but  practical  head  for  a  few 
moments,  Bill  spoke  as  follows: 

"Seems  to  me  the  case  is  just  this:  here  you  are,  a  young 
blooded  colt,  not  broken  to  either  saddle  or  thills — here  you 


58  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

are  whinnying  around  a  market  where  they  want  nothing 
but  dray-hosses.  People  look  shy  at  you— usually  do  at  a 
strange  hoss.  Few  know  good  p'ints  when  they  see  'em. 
When  they  find  you  ain't  broke  in  to  nothin',  they  want 
you  to  work  for  nothin'.  I  see  how  you  can't  do  this.  And 
yet  fodder  is  runnin'  short,  and  you  must  do  somethin'." 

Bill,  having  dealt  in  live-stock  all  his  life,  naturally 
clothed  his  thoughts  in  language  drawn  from  familiar  ob- 
jects, and  Dennis,  miserable  as  he  was,  half  smiled  at  the 
close  parallel  run  between  him  and  a  young,  useless  colt; 
but  he  only  said,  "I  don't  think  there  is  a  cart-horse  in  all 
Chicago  that  feels  more  broken  down  and  dispirited  than 
I  do  to-night." 

"That  may  all  be,  too,"  said  Bill;  "but  you'd  feel  a 
little  oats  mighty  quick,  and  a  cart- hoss  wouldn't.  But 
I  know  the  p'ints,  whether  it's  a  man  or  a  hoss;  you'd 
take  kindly  to  work  of  the  right  sort,  and  it  would  pay  any 
one  to'take  you  at  yer  own  terms,  but  you  can't  make  'em 
see  it.  If  I  was  in  a  situation  to  take  you,  I'd  do  it  in  a 
minute.  Hang  it  all!  I  can't  do  much  for  you,  either.  I 
took  a  drop  too  much  in  Cleveland  t'other  night,  and  some 
of  the  folks  in  the  house  looked  over  my  pocket-book  and 
left  me  just  enough  to  get  home  with." 

Dennis  shook  his  head  reproachfully  and  was  about  to 
speak. 

"I  know  what  you're  going  to  say,"  said  Bill,  heading 
off  another  temperance  lecture.  "I'll  take  a  drink  by  and 
by,  and  think  over  what  you've  said,  for  I  can't  think 
much  until  I  get  a  little  steam  up.  But  now  we  must  try 
and  see  some  way  out  of  the  fog  for  you;"  and  again  in 
absence  of  the  wonted  steam  he  scratched  the  shaggy  head 
vigorously. 

"Seems  to  me  the  best  thing  for  you  is  to  do  as  I  did 
when  I  first  broke  the  home  pasture  and  started  out  on  a 
rampage.  I  just  grabbed  the  fust  job  that  come  along, 
good,  bad,  or  indifferent — always  kept  doing  something. 
You  can  look  for  a  bird  in  a  bush  quite  as  well  when 


A    GOOD    SAMARITAN  59 

you've  got  one  in  the  hand  as  when  you  hain't.  To  be 
sure  I  wasn't  as  squeamish  as  you  are.  I'd  jumped  at  the 
offer  you  had  this  afternoon;  but  I  reckon  I'd  taken  toll 
too  often  to  be  very  profitable.  But  in  this  way  I  always 
kept  a-goin' — never  got  down  underfoot  so  the  stronger 
ones  could  tread  on  me.  When  it  comes  to  that,  I  want 
to  die.  Now  if  you've  got  plenty  of  clear  grit —  Leetle 
disposed  to  show  the  white  feather  though,  to-night, 
ain't  yer?" 

Dennis  flushed  up,  and  was  about  to  speak,  almost 
angrily. 

"There!  there!"  said  his  new  friend.  "I  said  yer  wasn't 
a  cart-hoss:  one  touch  of  the  spur  and  up  goes  tail  and  ears, 
and  then  look  out.  Are  yer  ashamed  to  do  any  kind  of 
honest  work?  I  mean  kinder  pious  work,  that  hasn't  any 
smack  of  the  devil  you're  so  afraid  of  in  it  ?" 

"No!  work  is  just  what  I  want." 

"Would  you  black  boots,  now?" 

Dennis  winced,  thought  a  moment,  and  then,  with  a 
manly  flush,  said,  "Yes,  before  I  would  take  a  cent  of 
charity  from  any  living  soul." 

"Give  us  yer  hand  again.  You're  the  kind  of  critter  I 
like  to  invest  in;  for  you'd  improve  on  a  feller's  hands. 
No  fear  about  you ;  the  only  thing  is  to  get  you  in  harness 
before  a  load  that  will  pay  to  haul." 

Suddenly  he  got  up,  strode  to  the  bar-room  door,  looked 
out  into  the  night,  and  came  back  again. 

"I  think  I  know  of  a  way  in  which  you  can  make  two  or 
three  dollars  to-morrow." 

"How?"  exclaimed  Dennis,  his  whole  face  lighting  up 
with  hope. 

"Go  to  a  hardware  store,  invest  in  a  big  wooden  snow- 
shovel,  and  clean  off  sidewalks  before  stores.  You  can  pick 
up  a  good  many  quarters  before  night,  like  enough. ' ' 

"I  will  do  it,"  said  Dennis,  heartily,  "and  thank  you 
warmly  for  the  suggestion,  and  for  your  kindly  interest 
generally;"  and  he  looked  up  and  felt  himself  another  man. 


60  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

"Gosh !  but  it  takes  mighty  few  oats  to  set  you  up!  But 
come,  and  let  us  have  a  little  plain,  substantial  fodder.  I 
will  drink  nothing  but  coffee,  to-night,  out  of  compliment 
to  you." 

Cheered,  comforted,  and  hopeful,  Dennis  sat  down  with 
his  good  Samaritan,  and  made  a  hearty  supper,  after  which 
they  parted  with  a  strong  friendly  grip,  and  sincere  good 
wishes,  Cronk,  the  drover,  going  on  further  west,  and 
Dennis  to  the  rest  he  so  sorely  needed. 


YAHCOB   BUNK  61 


CHAPTEB   VIII 

YAHCOB  BUNK 

BEFOEE  retiring,  Dennis  as  usual  took  his  Bible  from 
his  trunk  to  read  a  chapter.  He  was  now  in  a  very 
different  mood  from  that  of  a  few  hours  ago.  The 
suggestion  of  his  bar-room  acquaintance  was  a  light  upon 
his  way.  And  with  one  of  Dennis's  age  and  temperament, 
even  a  small  hope  is  potent.  He  was  eager  for  the  coming 
day,  in  order  to  try  the  experiment  of  wringing  bread  and 
opportunity  for  further  search  out  of  the  wintry  snows. 

But  that  which  had  done  him  the  most  good — more  than 
he  realized — was  the  kindness  he  had  received,  rough  though 
it  was — the  sympathy  and  companionship  of  another  human 
being;  for  if  he  had  been  cast  away  on  a  desert  island  he 
could  not  have  been  more  isolated  than  in  the  great  city, 
with  its  indifferent  multitudes. 

Moreover  the  generous  supper  was  not  without  its  de- 
cided influence;  and  with  it  he  had  drunk  a  cup  of  good 
coffee,  that  nectar  of  the  gods,  whose  subtile,  delicate  in- 
fluence is  felt  in  body  and  brain,  in  every  fibre  of  the  nature 
not  deadened  and  blunted  by  stronger  and  coarser  stimu- 
lants. He  who  leaves  out  physical  causes  in  accounting 
for  mental  and  moral  states,  will  usually  come  wide  of  the 
mark.  But  while  giving  the  influences  above  referred  to 
their  due  force,  so  far  from  ignoring,  we  would  acknowl- 
edge with  emphasis,  the  chief  cause  of  man's  ability  to 
receive  and  appreciate  all  the  highest  phases  of  truth  and 
good,  namely,  God's  help  asked  for  and  given.  Prayer  was 
a  habit  with  Dennis.  He  asked  God  with  childlike  faith  for 


62  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

the  bestowment  of  every  Christian  grace,  and  those  who 
knew  him  best  saw  that  he  had  no  reason  to  complain  that 
his  prayers  were  unanswered. 

But  now,  at  a  time  when  he  would  most  appreciate  it,  God 
was  about  to  reveal  to  him  a  truth  that  would  be  a  rich 
source  of  help  and  comfort  through  life,  and  a  sudden 
burst  of  sunshine  upon  his  dark  way  at  the  present  hour. 
He  was  to  be  shown  how  he  might  look  to  heaven  for  help 
and  guidance  in  respect  to  his  present  and  earthly  interests, 
as  truly  as  in  his  spiritual  life. 

As  he  opened  his  Bible  his  eyes  caught  the  words  of  our 
Lord — "Launch  out  into  the  deep  and  let  down  your  nets 
for  a  draught. ' ' 

Then  Peter's  answer — "Master,  we  have  toiled  all  the 
night  and  have  taken  nothing:  nevertheless,  at  Thy  word 
I  will  let  down  the  net." 

The  result — "They  inclosed  a  great  multitude  of  fishes." 

With  these  words  light  broke  in  upon  his  mind.  "If  our 
Lord,"  he  mused,  "helped  His  first  disciples  catch  fish,  why 
should  He  not  help  me  find  a  good  place  ?"  Then  unbelief 
suggested,  "It  was  not  for  the  sake  of  the  fish;  they  were 
only  means  to  a  higher  end." 

But  Dennis,  who  had  plently  of  good  common-sense,  at 
once  answered  this  objection:  "Neither  do  I  want  position 
and  money  for  low,  selfish  purposes.  My  ends  are  the  best 
and  purest,  for  I  am  seeking  my  own  honest  living  and  the 
support  of  my  mother  and  sisters — the  very  imperative 
duties  that  God  is  now  imposing  on  me.  Would  God 
reveal  a  duty  and  no  way  of  performing  it  ?" 

Then  came  the  thought:  "Have  I  asked  Him  to  help 
me?  Have  I  not  been  seeking  in  my  own  wisdom,  and 
trusting  in  my  own  strength  ?  and  this  too  when  my  igno- 
rance of  business,  the  dull  season  of  the  year,  and  every- 
thing was  against  me,  when  I  specially  needed  help.  Little 
wonder  that  I  have  fared  as  I  have. ' ' 

Turning  the  leaves  of  his  Bible  rapidly,  he  began  search- 
ing for  instances  of  God's  interference  in  behalf  of  the  tern- 


TAHCOB   BUNK  63 

poral  interests  of  His  servants — for  passages  where  earthly 
prosperity  was  promised  or  given.  After  an  hour  he  closed 
the  Bible  with  a  long  breath  of  wonder,  and  said  to  him- 
self: "Why,  God  seems  to  care  as  much  for  the  well-being 
and  happiness  of  his  children  here  as  He  will  when  He  has 
us  all  about  Him  in  the  home  above.  I've  been  blind  for 
twenty-one  years  to  one  of  the  grandest  truths  of  this  Book. " 

Then,  as  the  thought  grew  upon  him,  he  exclaimed,  joy- 
ously, "Take  heart,  Dennis  Fleet:  God  is  on  your  side  in 
the  struggle  for  an  honest  success  in  this  life  as  truly  as 
in  your  fight  against  sin  and  the  devil." 

It  was  long  before  he  slept  that  night,  but  a  truth  had 
been  revealed  that  rested  and  strengthened  him  more  than 
the  heavy  slumbers  after  the  weray  days  that  had  preceded. 

The  dawn  of  the  winter  morning  was  cold  and  faint  when 
Dennis  appeared  in  the  bar-room  the  next  day.  The  jolly- 
faced  Teuton  was  making  the  fire,  stopping  often  to  blow 
his  cold  fingers,  and  wasting  enough  good  breath  to  have 
kindled  a  furnace.  His  rubicund  visage,  surrounded  by 
shaggy  hair  and  beard  of  yellow,  here  appeared  in  the  dust 
and  smoke  he  was  making  like  the  sun  rising  in  a  fog. 

"Hillo!"  he  said,  on  seeing  Dennis;  "vat  you  oop  dis 
early  for?  Don't  vant  anoder  dinner  yet,  I  hope  ?" 

"I  will  take  that  in  good  time,"  said  Dennis;  "and  shall 
want  a  bigger  one  than  that  which  so  astonished  you  at 
first." 

"Oh,  my  eyes!"  said  the  German;  "den  I  go  and  tell  de 
cook  to  pegin  to  get  him  right  avay. ' ' 

Laughing  good-naturedly,  Dennis  went  to  the  door  and 
looked  out.  On  sidewalk  and  street  the  snow  lay  six  or 
eight  inches  deep,  untrodden,  white  and  spotless,  even  in 
the  heart  of  the  great  city.  "How  different  this  snow  will 
look  by  night,"  thought  he;  "how  soiled  and  black!  Per- 
haps very  many  come  to  this  city  in  the  morning  of  life  like 
this  snow,  pure  and  unstained;  but  after  being  here  awhile 
they  become  like  this  snow  when  it  has  been  tossed  about 


64  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

and  trodden  under  every  careless  foot.  God  grant  that, 
however  poor  and  unsuccessful  I  may  remain,  such  pollu- 
tion may  never  be  my  fate. ' ' 

But  feeling  that  he  had  no  time  for  moralizing  if  he 
would  secure  bread  for  the  coming  day  of  rest,  he  turned 
and  said  to  the  factotum  of  the  bar-room,  "How  much  will 
you  give  to  have  the  snow  cleared  off  the  sidewalk  in  front 
of  your  house?" 

"Zweishillen." 

"Then  I  will  earn  my  breakfast  before  I  eat  it,  if  you 
will  lend  me  a  shovel. ' ' 

"I  dought  you  vas  a  shentlemans, "  said  the  German, 
staring  at  him. 

"So  I  am;  just  the  shentlemans  that  will  clean  off  your 
sidewalk  for  zwei  shillen,  if  you  will  let  him." 

"You  vant  to  do  him  for  exercise  ?" 

"  No ;  for  zwei  shillings. ' f 

"I  dought  you  vas  a  shentlemans,"  said  the  man,  still 
staring  in  stolid  wonder  at  Dennis. 

"Didn't  you  ever  know  of  a  gentleman  who  came  from 
Germany  to  this  country  and  was  glad  to  do  anything  for 
an  honest  living?" 

"Often  and  often  I  haf.  You  see  von  here,"  said  the 
man,  with  a  grin. 

"Well,  I  am  just  that  kind  of  a  gentleman.  Now  if  you 
will  lend  me  a  shovel  I  will  clean  off  your  sidewalk  for  two 
shillings,  and  be  a  great  deal  more  thankful  than  if  you  had 
given  me  the  money  for  nothing." 

"Little  fear  of  dot,"  said  the  man,  with  another  grin. 
"Vel,  you  are  der  queerest  Yankee  in  Chicago,  you  are;  I 
dink  you  are  'bout  haf  Sherman.  I  tells  you  vat — here, 
vat's  your  name? — if  you  glean  off  dot  sidewalk  goot,  you 
shall  haf  preakfast  and  dinner,  much  as  you  eat,  vidout 
von  shent  to  pay.  I  don't  care  if  der  cook  is  cooking  all 
day.  I  like  your — vat  you  call  him? — shpunk." 

"It's  a  bargain,"  said  Dennis;  "and  if  I  can  make  a  few 
more  like  it  to-day,  I  shall  be  rich." 


YAHCOB    BUNK  65 

"You  may  vel  say  dot.  I  vill  go  into  der  market  and 
see  if  dere's  enough  for  me  to  keep  my  bart  of  der  bargain 
goot." 

For  half  an  hour  Dennis  worked  away  lustily,  and  then 
called  his  task-master  and  said,  "Will you  accept  the  job?" 

Surveying  with  surprise  the  large  space  cleared,  and 
looking  in  vain  for  reason  to  find  fault,  he  said:  "I  say 
nothin'  agin  him.  I  hope  you  vill  eat  your  dinner  as  quick. 
Now  come  in  to  your  preakfast. " 

He  pretended  to  be  perfectly  aghast  at  Dennis's  onslaught 
on  the  buckwheat  cakes,  and  rolled  up  his  eyes  despairingly 
as  each  new  plate  was  emptied. 

Having  finished,  Dennis  gave  him  a  nod,  and  said, 
"Wait  till  dinner-time." 

"Ah!  dere  vill  be  von  famine,"  said  the  German,  in  a 
tone  of  anguish,  wringing  his  hands. 

Having  procured  the  needful  implement,  Dennis  started 
out,  and,  though  there  was  considerable  competition,  found 
plenty  to  do,  and  shovelled  away  with  little  cessation  till 
one  o'clock.  Then,  counting  his  gains,  he  found  that  he 
had  paid  for  his  shovel,  secured  breakfast  and  dinner,  and 
had  a  balance  on  hand  of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  and 
he  had  nearly  half  a  day  yet  before  him.  He  felt  rich — nay, 
more  than  that,  he  felt  like  a  man  who,  sinking  in  a  shore- 
less ocean,  suddenly  catches  a  plank  that  bears  him  up  until 
land  appears  in  the  distance. 

•  "This  is  what  comes  of  asking  God  to  help  a  fellow," 
said  he  to  himself.  "Strange,  too,  that  He  should  answer 
my  prayer  in  part  before  I  asked,  by  causing  that  queer 
jumble  of  good  and  evil,  Bill  Cronk,  to  suggest  to  me  this 
way  of  turning  an  honest  penny.  I  wish  Bill  was  as  good 
a  friend  to  himself  as  he  is  to  others.  I  fear  that  he  will  go 
to  the  dogs.  Bless  me!  the  gnawings  of  hunger  are  bad 
enough,  but  what  must  be  those  of  conscience  ?  I  think  I 
can  astonish  my  German  friend  to-day  as  never  before;" 
and,  shouldering  his  shovel,  he  walked  back  to  dinner,  feel- 
ing like  a  prince  bearing  aloft  the  insignia  of  his  power. 


66  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

When  he  entered  the  bar  and  lunch  room,  he  saw  that 
something  was  wrong.  The  landlord  met  him,  instead  of 
his  jolly,  satirical  friend. 

Now  the  owner  of  the  place  was  a  wizen-faced,  dried-up 
old  anatomy,  who  seemed  utterly  exhaling  away  in  tobacco 
smoke,  while  his  assistant  was  becoming  spherical  under 
the  expansive  power  of  lager.  It  was  his  custom  to  sit  up 
and  smoke  most  of  the  night,  and  therefore  he  was  down 
late  in  the  morning.  When  he  appeared  his  assistant  told 
him  of  the  bargain  he  had  made  with  Dennis  as  a  good  joke. 
But  old  Hans  hadn't  any  faculty  for  jokes.  Dollars  and 
cents  and  his  big  meerschaum  made  up  the  two  elements  of 
his  life.  The  thought  of  losing  zwei  shillings  or  zwei  cents 
by  Dennis,  or  any  one  else,  caused  him  anguish,  and  instead 
of  laughing,  his  fun-loving  assistant  was  aghast  at  seeing 
him  fall  into  a  passion. 

44  You  be  von  big  fule.  Vat  for  we  keep  mens  here  who 
haf  no  money?  You  should  gleared  him  off,  instead  of 
making  pargains  for  him  to  eat  us  out  of  der  house." 

"We  haf  his  trunk,"  said  Jacob,  for  that  was  his 
name. 

"Nothin'  in  it,"  growled  Hans,  yet  somewhat  mollified 
by  this  fact. 

When  Dennis  appeared,  he  put  the  case  without  any 
circumlocution:  "I  makes  my  livin'  by  keepin'  dis  house. 
I  can  no  make  my  livin'  unless  efrypodies  bays  me.  I  haf 
reason  to  dink  dot  you  haf  no  moneys.  Vat  ish  de  druf  ? 
'Gause  if  you  haf  none,  you  can  no  longer  stay  here." 

"Have  I  not  paid  for  everything  I  have  had  so  far?" 
said  Dennis. 

"Dot  is  not  der  question.     Haf  you  got  any  moneys  ?" 

"What  is  your  bill  in  advance  up  to  Monday  morning?" 

"Zwei  dollar  and  a  quarter,  if  you  dake  preakfast." 

"Deduct  breakfast  and  dinner  to-day  for  clearing  off  the 
sidewalk. ' ' 

"Dot  ish  too  much;  you  did  it  in  half- hour. " 

"Well,  it  would  have  taken  you  three.     But  a  bargain 


YAHCOB   BUNK  67 

is  a  bargain,  the  world  over.  Did  not  you  promise  it?"  — 
to  Jacob. 

"Yah!  und  you  shall  haf  him,  too,  if  I  be  der  loser. 
Yahcob  Bunk  ish  not  der  man  to  go  pack  on  his  vort. M 

"Vel,  den,"  said  old  Hans,  "von  dollar  sheventy-five  to 
Monday  morning. ' ' 

"There's  the  money;  now  let  me  have  my  dinner,  for  I 
am  in  a  hurry." 

At  the  sight  of  money  Hans  at  once  became  the  most 
obsequious  of  hosts,  and  so  would  remain  while  it  lasted. 
But  Dennis  saw  that  the  moment  it  was  gone  his  purchased 
courtesy  would  change,  and  he  trembled  at  his  narrow  es- 
cape from  being  thrust  out  into  the  wintry  streets,  friend- 
less, penniless,  to  beg  or  starve — equally  hard  alternatives 
to  his  mirfd. 

"Come,  Yahcob,  thou  snail,  give  der  shentlemans  his 
dinner,"  said  Hans. 

Jacob,  who  had  been  looking  on  with  heavy,  stolid  face, 
now  brightened  up  on  seeing  that  all  was  right,  and  gave 
Dennis  a  double  portion  of  the  steaming  pot- pie,  and  a  huge 
mug  of  coffee.  When  Dennis  had  finished  these  and  crowned 
his  repast  with  a  big  dumpling,  Jacob  came  to  him  with  a 
face  as  long  and  serious  as  his  harvest  moon  of  a  visage 
could  be  made,  and  said:  "Dere  ish  nodding  more  in  Chi- 
cago; you  haf  gleaned  it  out.  Ve  must  vait  dill  der  evenin' 
drain  gomes  pef ore  ve  haf  supper. ' ' 

"That  will  be  time  enough  for  me,"  said  Dennis,  laugh- 
ing—for he  could  laugh  to-day  at  little  things— and  started 
off  again  with  his  shovel. 


BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER   IX 

LAND      AT      LAST 

DURING-  the  latter  part  of  a  busy  afternoon,  Dennis 
came  to  a  spacious,  elegant  store  before  which  the 
snow  lay  untouched  save  as  trodden  by  passers-by. 
Over  the  high  arched  doorway  was  the  legend  in  gilt  letters, 
"Art  Building";  and  as  far  as  a  mere  warehouse  for  beauti- 
ful things  could  deserve  the  title,  this  place  did,  for  it  was 
crowded  with  engravings,  paintings,  bronzes,  statuary,  and 
every  variety  of  ornament.  With  delighted  eyes  and  lin- 
gering steps  he  had  passed  slowly  through  this  store  a  few 
days  previous  in  his  search,  but  had  received  the  usual  cool 
negative.  He  had  gone  reluctantly  out  into  the  cold  street 
again  as  Adam  went  out  of  Paradise. 

A  large  florid-looking  man  with  a  light  curling  mustache 
now  stood  in  the  doorway.  His  appearance  was  unmistak- 
ably that  of  a  German  of  the  highest  and  most  cultivated 
type.  And  yet,  when  he  spoke,  his  English  was  so  good 
that  you  detected  only  a  foreign  accent.  Strong  vexation 
was  stamped  upon  his  face  as  he  looked  at  the  snowy,  un- 
tidy sidewalk. 

"Mr.  Schwartz,"  he  asked  of  one  of  his  clerks,  "was  Pat 
here  this  morning?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Was  he  perfectly  straight?" 

"I  cannot  say  that  he  was,  sir." 

"He  is  off  on  a  spree  again.  Send  him  to  me  the  mo- 
ment he  returns. ' ' 

"Shall  I  clear  your  sidewalk?"  said  Dennis,  stepping  up 
and  touching  his  hat  respectfully. 


LAND    AT   LAST  69 

"Yes,"  said  the  gentleman,  scarcely  looking  at  him; 
"and  when  you  have  finished  come  to  the  office  for  your 
money;"  and  then  he  walked  back  into  the  store  with  a 
frowning  brow. 

Though  Dennis  was  now  pretty  thoroughly  fatigued  with 
the  hard  day's  work,  he  entered  on  this  task  with  a  good  will 
as  the  closing  labor  of  the  day,  hoping,  from  the  wide  space 
to  be  cleared,  to  receive  proportionate  recompense.  And 
yet  his  despatch  was  not  so -great  as  usual,  for  in  spite  of 
himself  his  eyes  were  continually  wandering  to  the  large 
show-windows,  from  which  smiled  down  upon  him  summer 
landscapes,  and  lovely  faces  that  seemed  all  the  more  beau- 
tiful in  contrast  with  the  bleak  and  darkening  street. 

He  was  rudely  startled  from  one  of  his  stolen  glances  at 
a  sweet,  girlish  face  that  seemed  peering  archly  at  him  from 
a  corner.  His  ears  were  assailed  by  the  loud  tones  and  strong 
brogue  of  "Pat,"  returning  thus  late  to  his  neglected  duties. 

"Bad  luck  to  yez!  what  yez  doin'  here?" 

"Clearing  the  sidewalk,"  said  Dennis,  laconically. 

"Give  me  that  shovel,  or  I'll  knock  bloody  blazes  out  of 
yez." 

Dennis  at  once  stood  on  the  defensive,  and  raised  his 
tool  threateningly.  At  the  same  time  seeing  a  policeman, 
he  called  out,  "Will  you  please  cause  this  drunken  fellow 
to  move  on  ?' ' 

The  officer  was  about  to  comply,  when  the  Irishman, 
with  a  snort  like  that  of  a  mad  bull,  rushed  to  the  door  of 
the  art  building,  wrenched  it  open,  and,  leaving  it  so,  tore 
down  the  long  store,  crying,  "Misther  Ludolph!  Misther 
Ludolph!  here's  a  bloody  spalpane  a- doin'  my  work. " 

He  had  scarcely  got  half-way  to  the  office  before  there 
was  a  crash  followed  by  a  general  commotion. 

Pat,  in  his  blind  rage,  and  with  steps  uncertain  from  the 
effects  of  whiskey,  had  struck  a  valuable  marble,  and  it  lay 
broken  on  the  floor.  This  catastrophe  sobered  him,  and  he 
stood  looking  in  dismay  at  the  destruction  he  had  wrought. 
His  employer,  the  gentleman  whom  Dennis  had  seen  at  the 


70  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

door,  now  appeared  upon  the  scene  in  a  towering  passion, 
and  scrupled  not  to  heap  maledictions  upon  the  head  of  the 
unfortunate  Hibernian. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  rushing  through  the  store  in  thi» 
mad  style?"  he  demanded. 

"There's  an  impudent  fellow  outside  a-doin'  my  work," 
said  Pat. 

"Why  didn't  you  do  it  yourself,  instead  of  going  off  to 
the  gin-mills  this  morning  ?  Didn't  I  warn  you  ?  Didn't  I 
tell  you  your  last  spree  should  be  the  last  in  my  employ  ? 
Now  begone,  you  drunken  idiot !  and  if  you  ever  show  your 
face  on  these  premises  again  I'll  have  you  arrested  and  com- 
pel payment  for  this  marble,  and  it  will  take  every  cent  you 
have  in  the  world,  and  more  too." 

"Ah !  Misther  Ludolph,  if  ye' 11  only  give  me  one  more — " 

"I  tell  you  be  off!  or  I  will  call  the  policeman  at 
once." 

"But  Bridget  and  the  childer  will  starve." 

"What  are  Bridget  and  the  children  to  me?  If  you 
won't  take  care  of  them,  you  can't  expect  other  people  to. 
Begone!"  said  his  employer,  advancing  threateningly  and 
stamping  his  foot. 

Pat  looked  around  in  vain  for  help :  the  clerks  were  but 
fainter  echoes  of  their  master. 

Seeing  his  case  to  be  hopeless,  he  turned  about  the  hur- 
ried away,  his  big  red  face  distorted  by  many  contending 
emotions.  Nor  did  he  stop  until  he  reached  one  of  the 
fatal  "gin-mills,"  where  he  soon  drowned  memory  and 
trouble  in  huge  potations  of  the  fiery  element  that  was 
destroying  him  and  bringing  wretchedness  to  "Bridget 
and  the  childer." 

Again  Dennis  had  a  lesson  .on  drinking  for  the  effects. 

He  rapidly  completed  his  work  and  entered  the  store. 
A  clerk  handed  him  fifty  cents. 

"May  I  see  Mr.   Ludolph  a  moment?"  he  asked. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  clerk,  "he  is  in  the  inner  office 
there;  but  I  guess  you  won't  find  him  very  smooth  this 


LAND   AT  LAST  71 

evening,"  looking  at  the  same  time  suggestively  toward 
the  broken  marble. 

But  Mr.  Ludolph  was  not  in  as  bad  a  humor  as  was  im- 
agined. This  thrifty  Teuton  had  not  lost  much  by  the  mis- 
hap of  the  afternoon,  for  a  month  or  two  of  wages  was  due 
Pat,  and  this  kept  back  would  pay  in  the  main  for  the  in- 
jury he  had  done.  His  whole  soul  being  bent  on  the  ac- 
quirement of  money,  for  reasons  that  will  be  explained  fur- 
ther on,  his  momentary  passion  soon  passed  away  when  he 
found  he  had  sustained  no  material  injury.  To  Dennis's 
knock  he  responded  in  his  usual  tone,  "Come  in!"  and 
Dennis  stood  in  a  warm,  lighted,  cosey  office,  where  the 
object  of  his  quest  sat  writing  rapidly  with  his  back  to 
the  door.  Dennis  waited  respectfully  till  the  facile  pen 
glided  through  the  sentence,  and  then  Mr.  Ludolph  looked 
up.  Dennis's  bearing  and  appearance  were  so  unmistak- 
ably those  of  a  gentleman  that  Mr.  Ludolph,  not  recogniz- 
ing him  as  the  person  who  had  cleared  his  sidewalk,  rose 
courteously  and  said,  "Did  you  wish  to  see  me?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  Dennis;  "I  understand  that  you  dis- 
missed a  person  in  your  employ  this  afternoon.  I  would  re- 
spectfully apply  for  his  place,  if  it  is  not  promised." 

The  gentleman  smiled  and  said:  "You  are  mistaken,  I 
think.  I  discharged  a  drunken  Irishman,  who  had  been 
porter  and  man-of-all-work  about  the  store,  this  afternoon; 
but  I  have  no  place  vacant,  young  sir,  that  you  would  care 
to  fill." 

"If  you  think  me  competent  to  fill  the  position  of  porter 
and  your  man-of-all-work,  I  would  be  very  glad  to  obtain 
it;  that  is,  if  it  will  support  me  and  those  dependent  on 
me." 

The  merchant  muttered  to  himself,  "I  thought  he  was  a 
gentleman. ' ' 

Then,  as  this  was  a  business  matter  of  some  importance, 
he  caused  Dennis  to  stand  full  in  the  light,  while  he  with- 
drew somewhat  in  the  shadow,  and  gave  it  his  attention  with 
characteristic  shrewdness  and  caution. 


72  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

"  You  seem  rather  above  the  situation  you  ask  for,"  he 
said. 

"I  am  not  above  it  in  circumstances,"  said  Dennis,  "and 
it  certainly  is  better  than  shovelling  snow  all  day. ' ' 

"Are  you  the  man  that  just  cleaned  my  sidewalk?" 

"lam,  sir." 

"You  must  be  aware  that  your  general  appearance  is 
very  different  from  that  of  the  man  discharged  to-day,  and 
from  those  seeking  the  menial  place  in  question.  Can  you 
explain  this  fact  satisfactorily?" 

"I  can  readily  explain  it,  and  I  hope  satisfactorily.  At 
any  rate  I  shall  be  perfectly  open;"  and  Dennis  told  him 
briefly,  but  plainly,  just  how  he  was  situated. 

As  the  keen  man  of  the  world  watched  with  the  closest 
scrutiny  the  honest  young  face,  he  believed  every  word. 
Accustomed  to  deal  with  all  classes  of  men  from  child- 
hood, he  had  learned  to  read  them  as  the  open  page  of  a 
book. 

He  asked  coolly,  however,  "Have  you  no  recommenda- 
tions?" 

Dennis  produced  the  ministerial  letter,  which  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph  glanced  at  with  good-natured  contempt. 

"This  is  all  right,"  he  said;  "superstition  is  an  excel- 
lent thing  for  some  minds.  I  managed  Pat  a  year  through 
his  priest,  and  then  he  got  beyond  the  priest  and  me  too." 

This  undisguised  contempt  of  all  that  he  held  sacred, 
and  the  classing  of  true  faith  with  gross  superstition,  pained 
Dennis;  and  his  face  showed  it,  though  he  said  nothing. 

"There,"  said  the  gentleman,  "I  did  not  mean  to  hurt 
your  feelings,  but  to  the  educated  in  our  land  these  things 
seem  very  childish." 

"I  should  serve  you  none  the  worse,"  said  Dennis,  with 
quiet  dignity,  "if  I  believed  that  the  duty  I  owed  to  you 
I  owed  also  to  God." 

Mr.  Ludolph  looked  as  if  a  new  idea  had  struck  him, 
smiled,  and  said:  "Most  people's  religion,  as  far  as  my 
experience  has  gone,  is  not  of  this  practical  kind.  But  I 


LAND    AT   LAST  73 

believe  that  I  can  trust  you,  and  your  face  and  story  are 
worth  much  more  to  me  than  this  letter.  A  scamp  might 
possess  that  as  well  as  an  honest  youth  like  you.  Now,  as 
to  terms:  I  will  give  you  forty  dollars  a  month  for  the  first 
two  months,  and  then,  if  you  develop  and  take  well  to  the 
work,  I  will  give  you  sixty." 

Dennis  thought  that  this,  with  close  economy,  would 
enable  him  to  live  and  support  his  mother  and  sisters,  and 
he  accepted  the  terms. 

"Moreover,  to  show  the  advantage  of  telling  a  straight- 
forward story,  you  may  sleep  in  the  store:  the  building  will 
be  safer  for  having  some  one  in  it.  I  will  pay  you  at  the 
end  of  every  week  as  long  as  you  suit,  so  that  you  can 
commence  sending  something  to  your  mother  immediately. 
You  see  that  I  take  an  interest  in  you,"  said  the  shrewd 
man,  "and  expect  you  to  take  an  interest  in  my  business, 
and  work  for  me  as  for  yourself." 

Simple,  honest  Dennis  could  not  see  that  Mr.  Ludolph 
cared  infinitely  more  for  himself  than  for  all  the  world  com- 
bined, and  made  it  his  life-study  to  get  the  most  out  of  it 
with  the  least  cost  to  himself.  Under  the  words  that  seemed 
so  kind  and  considerate,  the  young  man's  heart  swelled  with 
the  strong  and  grateful  purpose  to  spare  himself  in  no  way 
in  the  service  of  such  an  employer.  The  wily  man  saw  this, 
and  smiled  to  himself  over  the  credulity  of  mankind. 

"Have  you  enough  to  last  till  next  Saturday  night?'1 
he  asked. 

"I  will  make  it  last,"  said  Dennis,  sturdily. 

"That  is  right,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph.  "Stand  on  your 
own  feet  if  you  can.  I  never  give  any  more  help  than  will 
barely  enable  a  man  to  help  himself1 ' — a  maxim  which  had 
the  advantage  not  only  of  being  sound,  but  of  according 
exactly  with  his  disposition. 

After  a  moment's  thought,  Mr.  Ludolph  spoke  in  a  tone 
so  sharp,  and  a  manner  so  stern,  that  Dennis  was  startled. 

"Mark  me,  young  man,  I  wish  a  plain  understaning  in 
one  respect:  you  take  Pat's  place,  and  I  expect  you  to  do 

ROE— V— 4 


74  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

Pat's  work.  I  wish  no  trouble  to  arise  from  your  being 
above  your  business." 

4 'You  will  have  none/'  said  Dennis,  quietly  and  firmly. 

"All  right,  then.  Mr.  Schwartz  will  show  you  about 
closing  up  the  store.  Be  here  early  Monday  morning,  and 
remember  that  all  depends  upon  yourself." 

In  the  depths  of  his  grateful  heart  Dennis  felt  how  much 
the  success  of  that  day  and  every  day  of  life  depended  on 
God. 

Mr.  Ludolph  put  on  his  coat  and  gloves  and  went  out 
with  Dennis  into  the  store. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  he  to  his  clerks,  "this  young  man, 
Dennis  Fleet  by  name,  will  take  the  place  of  Pat  Murphy, 
discharged  to-day.  Mr.  Schwartz,  will  you  show  him  what 
it  is  necessary  to  do  to-night  ?  He  will  be  here  on  Monday 
morning  at  the  usual  time  for  opening  the  store,  and  after 
that  will  sleep  in  the  building." 

The  clerks  looked  at  him  for  a  moment,  as  they  might 
at  a  new  piece  of  furniture,  or  a  labor-saving  machine,  and 
then  coolly  finished  their  duties,  and  followed  their  em- 
ployer. Mr.  Schwartz  showed  him  about  closing  the  store, 
taking  care  of  the  furnace,  etc.,  and  Dennis  saw  that 
his  place  was  no  sinecure.  Still  it  was  not  work,  but  its 
lack,  that  he  dreaded,  and  his  movements  were  so  eager 
and  earnest  that  a  faint  expression  of  surprise  and  curiosity 
tinged  the  broad,  stolid  face  of  Mr.  Schwartz;  but  he  only 
buttoned  his  coat  to  the  chin  and  muttered,  "New  broom," 
and  went  his  way  homeward,  leaving  Dennis  to  go  his. 


THE   NEW  BROOM  75 


CHAPTEE  X 

THE      NEW      BROOM 

following  Sabbath  was  a  bright  winter  day  with- 
out, but  bright  summer  in  Dennis's  heart.  He 
inquired  his  way  to  a  neighboring  church,  and 
every  word  of  prayer,  praise,  and  truth  fell  on  a  glad, 
grateful  spirit.  Returning,  he  wrote  a  long  letter  to  his 
mother,  telling  her  all  he  had  passed  through,  especially 
dwelling  on  the  truth  he  had  discovered  of  God's  wish  to 
make  this  life  happy  and  successful,  as  well  as  the  life 
beyond. 

In  closing,  he  wrote:  "Here  I  am,  Dennis  Fleet,  who  a 
few  days  since  thought  the  world  scarcely  large  enough  for 
what  I  meant  to  do,  standing  contentedly  and  gratefully  in 
Pat  Murphy's  shoes.  I  will  not  conceal  from  you,  speaking 
figuratively  (the  fates  forbid  that  it  should  be  literally  true), 
that  I  hope  to  outgrow  them,  and  arrive  at  something  better 
before  many  months  pass.  In  the  meantime  I  am  indeed 
thankful  for  the  means  of  winning  honest  bread  for  us  all. 
It  is  quite  a  come-down  from  the  classics  and  law  to  the 
position  of  porter  and  man-of-all-work  in  a  picture  and 
music  store,  but  if  God  means  me  to  rise  He  can  lead  me 
upward  from  my  lowly  standpoint  as  well  as  from  the  most 
favored  that  I  could  have  chosen  for  myself.  I  have  learned 
that  if  I  will  trust  Him  and  do  present  duty  thoroughly,  He 
will  not  forget  me." 

On  Monday  morning,  half  an  hour  before  the  specified 
time,  Dennis  stood  at  the  store.  Impatiently  he  walked  up 
and  down  before  what  would  become  the  scene  of  joys  and 


76  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

sorrows  such  as  he  had  never  before  experienced.  But  we 
will  not  anticipate. 

In  due  time  Mr.  Schwartz  appeared.  He  gave  Dennis  a 
cool  nod,  and  said,  "Glad  to  see  you  so  prompt,"  then  mut- 
tered again  to  himself,  "New  broom." 

In  Mr.  Schwartz's  slow,  plodding  soul  the  fire  of  enthu- 
siasm had  never  burned.  He  was  eminently  conservative, 
and  looked  with  wary  suspicion  on  anything  that  appeared 
like  earnestness.  In  the  midst  of  a  driving,  bustling  West- 
ern city,  he  stuck  in  the  mud  of  his  German  phlegm,  like  a 
snag  in  the  swift  current  of  the  Mississippi.  Yet  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph  found  him  a  most  valuable  assistant.  He  kept  things 
straight.  Under  his  minute  supervision  everything  had  to 
be  right  on  Saturday  night  as  well  as  on  Monday  morning, 
on  the  81st  of  December  as  well  as  on  the  1st  of  January. 
He  was  one  who  through  life  would  be  satisfied  with  a  sub- 
ordinate position,  conscious  of  the  lack  of  enterprise  need- 
ful to  push  his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  painstaking, 
methodical  spirit  was  just  the  kind  to  pervade  a  large  ware- 
house like  that  he  had  in  charge,  and  prevent  loss  and  con- 
fusion in  the  multiplicity  of  objects  it  contained.  Pat's 
careless  Irish  ways  had  vexed. his  soul  beyond  words,  and 
now  Dennis's  eager  manner  suggested  a  hare-brained  Yankee 
youth  who  would  raise  a  dust  for  a  week  and  then  be  off  at 
something  else.  He  was  therefore  cool  and  curt,  seeking 
by  frostiness  of  manner  to  nip  the  budding  enthusiasm  that 
annoyed  him. 

Dennis  heeded  him  not,  but  bent  every  faculty  to  the 
mastery  of  the  duties  required  of  him.  He  was  to  mop 
out  the  store  with  damp  cloths,  so  as  to  raise  no  dust, 
to  look  after  the  furnace  and  graduate  the  heat  throughout 
the  building,  to  receive  boxes,  to  assist  in  packing  and  un- 
packing pianos  and  other  musical  instruments  that  occupied 
part  of  the  upper  floors,  and  to  make  himself  generally  use- 
ful. So  far  from  being  an  easy  position,  it  was  one  that 
required  great  strength  and  despatch,  and  these  had  been 
Pat's  qualities  save  when  drink  got  the  better  of  him.  For 


THE   NEW   BROOM  77 

one  of  his  age,  Dennis  was  very  strong,  and  his  experience 
in  helping  his  mother  in  household  duties  had  made  him 
quick  and  dexterous,  where  most  young  men  would  have 
been  awkward  and  slow.  After  a  day  or  two  Mr.  Schwartz 
relaxed  his  grimness  somewhat,  for  if  Dennis  worked  eagerly 
he  also  worked  well  for  a  beginner.  Still  it  would  require 
several  years  of  well-doing  to  satisfy  old  Schwartz  that  all 
was  right.  But  Mr.  Ludolph,  with  his  quick  insight  into 
character,  watched  this  "new  broom"  a  few  days,  and  then 
congratulated  himself  on  gaining  another  decided  help 
toward  the  object  nearest  his  heart. 

The  other  clerks  were  of  German  descent,  and  under 
Mr.  Schwartz's  rigid  system  each  one  filled  his  appropriate 
niche,  and  performed  carefully  the  duties  assigned. 

Even  to  Dennis's  uncultivated  eye  there  was  an  inartistic 
formality  about  the  whole  establishment  His  sense  of  this 
was  at  first  but  a  feeling — a  vague  impression  that  grew 
upon  him  without  his  quite  knowing  why.  He  soon  discov- 
ered, however,  that  everything  was  arranged  squarely,  ac- 
cording to  system,  order,  and  not  with  a  view  of  placing  in 
the  best  lights  and  shadows  the  beautiful  things  to  be  sold. 
He  saw  that  Mr.  Ludolph  was  annoyed  by  the  same  defect. 
One  bright  day,  when  everything  stood  out  with  glaring 
distinctness,  he  seemed  provoked  beyond  measure  by  this 
inartistic  rigidity,  and  stormed  through  the  store  at  a  great 
rate. 

"This  art  building  and  everybody  and  everything  in  it 
look  as  if  they  had  swallowed  a  ramrod,"  snarled  he. 
"Mr.  Schwartz,  can't  you  teach  the  young  men  to  throw 
a  little  ease  and  grace  into  the  arrangement  of  the  articles 
under  their  charge  ?" 

Mr.  Schwartz  looked  at  him  with  a  blank,  impassive  face, 
and  his  employer  felt  that  he  might  as  well  ask  an  elephant 
to  teach  dancing. 

Turning  suddenly  on  a  stolid  youth,  he  exclaimed,  "By 
the  gods!  if  you  have  not  arranged  all  the  statuettes  on 
your  counter  in  straight  lines,  and  half  of  them  with  their 


78  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

backs  toward  the  door  at  which  our  customers  enter !  Here, 
gather  round  me  -while  I  give  you  some  ideas  of  arrange- 
ment." 

The  clerks  gathered  around  him,  while  with  hands  of 
skill  and  taste  he  placed  everything  artistically.  The  effect 
of  a  little  transposition  was  marvellous,  and  Mr.  Schwartz 
acknowledged  that  the  groups  looked  doubly  pretty  and  in- 
viting. Dennis  stood  at  a  respectful  distance,  but  was  a 
close  observer.  He  was  the  only  one  who  gained  much 
benefit  from  the  lesson,  because  the  only  one  capable  of 
receiving  it.  With  quick,  appreciative  eye  he  saw  the 
grouping  needful  to  produce  the  desired  effect. 

As  Mr.  Ludoph  looked  up  he  caught  Dennis's  intelligent 
gaze. 

"That  is  right,  Fleet,"  he  said;  "you  learn,  too,  if  you 
can,  and  when  you  are  dusting  around  see  if  you  cannot 
combine  a  little  order  and  grace." 

From  that  day  forward  the  hand  and  taste  of  Dennis 
Fleet  gradually,  and  almost  imperceptibly  at  first,  gave  a 
new  aspect  and  created  a  new  atmosphere  in  the  "Art  Build- 
ing." But  at  first  he  was  kept  busy  enough  at  his  humble 
routine  duties.  Every  one  felt  and  expressed  a  little  sur- 
prise at  his  getting  into  harness  so  quickly,  but  Mr. 
Schwartz's  influence  was  not  conducive  to  conversation 
or  emotions,  however  faint.  All  went  forward  quietly  and 
orderly,  like  well-oiled  machinery.  Customers  received 
every  attention,  and  though  many  no  doubt  had  the  un- 
defined feeling  that  something  was  wrong  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  store,  each  found  an  abundance  of  beautiful 
things  suited  to  his  taste  and  purse,  and  so  trade  was  good, 
even  though  the  holiday  season  was  over. 

As  for  Dennis,  he  was  to  a  certain  extent  in  Paradise. 
Nature  had  given  him  a  deep,  earnest  love  of  the  beautiful, 
and  a  keen  perception  of  it. 

Though  his  days  were  busy  indeed,  he  found  time  grad- 
ually to  study  every  pretty  thing  in  the  store.  Though 
much  was  mystery  to  him  as  yet,  he  felt  that  he  had  crossed 


THE   NEW   BROOM  79 

the  threshold  of  a  beautiful  world — the  world  of  art.  When 
a  boy  in  New  England  he  had  taken  drawing- lessons,  and 
had  shown  remarkable  aptness.  While  at  college,  also,  he 
had  given  some  attention  to  drawing  and  coloring,  but  cir- 
cumstances had  prevented  him  from  following  the  bent  of 
his  taste.  Now  the  passion  awoke  with  tenfold  force,  and 
he  had  not  been  in  his  place  a  week  before  he  began  to 
make  sketches  of  little  things  that  pleased  him.  Some  of 
the  pictures  and  bronzes  became  almost  dear  because  of  the 
pleasure  and  inspiration  that  they  occasioned,  and  at  their 
sale  his  feeling  was  akin  to  regret.  Early  in  the  morning, 
when  refreshed  and  brightened  by  the  night's  rest,  he  would 
walk  through  the  store  as  through  fairy-land,  and,  forgetting 
that  he  was  a  humble  servitor,  would  feel  as  if  all  were  his. 
But  in  fact  was  not  his  possession  truer  than  that  of  many 
whose  palace  walls  glow  with  every  rich  gem  of  art,  and  yet 
whose  eyes  are  blind  and  their  hearts  dull  to  the  beauty  they 
have  paid  for  ? 

A  few  days  after  his  arrival,  a  little  incident  occurred 
that  was  hard  and  practical  enough,  and  might  justly  cause 
him  to  feel  that  he  occupied  a  humble  place,  not  only  in 
the  world  of  art,  but  in  the  world  in  general.  There  had 
been  a  day  of  rain,  slush,  and  mud.  One  of  the  younger 
clerks  had  been  sent  out  on  an  errand,  and  came  in  well 
splashed.  Drawing  off  his  boots,  he  threw  them  to  Dennis, 
saying:  "Here  you,  Fleet!  black  my  boots  as  quick  as  you 
can.  I  must  go  out  again. " 

Dennis  reddened,  and  for  a  moment  drew  himself  up  as 
if  he  had  been  struck.  The  young  man  saw  it  and  said,  in 
a  loud,  coarse  tone  that  could  be  heard  by  several  custom- 
ers :  ' 4  Vat !  you  above  your  biz  ?  I  thought  it  vould  be  so. ' ' 

Dennis  acted  with  decision.  He  meant  to  have  the  matter 
settled  at  once.  Picking  up  the  muddy  boots,  he  marched 
straight  into  Mr.  Ludolph's  office.  That  gentleman  looked 
up,  impatient  at  interruption,  and  saw  his  man-of- all- work 
standing  before  him  with  the  splashed  boots  dangling  in 
his  hands. 


80  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

"Well,  what  is  it?"  asked  he,  sharply. 

'  *  Mr.  Berder  threw  me  those  boots  and  told  me  to  black 
them.  Is  this  a  part  of  my  duty  here?"  said  Dennis,  in  a 
firm,  quiet  tone. 

"Curse  it  all!"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  with  much  irritation; 
1  'I  thought  there  would  be  trouble  with  your  uppishness." 

4 '  There  shall  be  no  trouble  whatever, ' '  said  Dennis ;  '  *  but 
I  prefer  to  take  my  orders  from  you,  and  not  from  Mr. 
Berder.  If  you  say  this  is  expected,  the  disagreeable  task 
shall  be  done  as  well  as  I  can  do  it." 

Mr.  Ludolph  looked  sharply  at  the  young  man  for  a  mo- 
ment and  hesitated.  In  his  heart  he  felt  that  he  was  speak- 
ing to  a  gentleman,  and  that  it  was  not  the  thing  to  ask 
of  him  such  menial  work.  But  his  irritation  and  desire  to 
crush  out  anything  like  insubordination  prevailed.  Still, 
rather  than  directly  order  it,  he  appealed  to  the  custom  of 
the  past,  and  stepping  to  the  door  of  the  office  he  called: 
"Mr.  Schwartz,  come  here!  Did  Pat  black  the  shoes  of  the 
gentlemen  of  this  store  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"You  took  Pat  Murphy's  place,  did  you  not?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Dennis. 

"It  seems  to  me,  then,  that  this  settles  the  question," 
said  Mr.  Ludolph,  coolly,  turning  to  his  writing;  but  he 
furtively  and  carefully  watched  Dennis's  course. 

Determined  to  show  that  he  was  not  above  his  business, 
that  he  accepted  the  bitter  with  the  sweet,  Dennis  went  up- 
stairs to  his  room,  got  blacking  and  brush,  and  taking  his 
station  in  a  corner  where  Mr.  Ludolph  could  plainly  see 
him  through  the  glass  doors  of  his  office,  he  polished  away 
as  vigorously  as  if  that  were  his  only  calling.  Mr.  Ludolph 
looked  and  smiled.  JELis  was  a  nature  that  could  be  pleased 
with  a  small  triumph  like  this.  But  the  other  clerks,  seeing 
Mr.  Berder 's  success,  and  determining  to  do  their  part,  also, 
in  taking  Dennis,  "down  a  peg,"  as  they  expressed  it, 
brought  their  boots,  too,  and  Mr.  Berder  came  with  his 
again  in  the  afternoon.  Dennis  cleaned  and  polished  away 


THE   NEW   BROOM  81 

in  full  view  of  Mr.  Ludolph,  who  began  to  realize  with 
vexation  that  his  man- of -all- work  would  have  little  time  for 
the  duties  of  the  store  if  he  were  installed  general  bootblack 
of  the  establishment.  But,  after  this,  cold  and  snow  kept 
the  streets  dry  and  clean  for  some  time,  and  the  matter 
passed  on  without  further  notice.  Boots  were  seldom 
brought  to  him,  and  when  they  were,  they  were  cleaned 
without  a  word.  In  the  meantime,  his  ability  and  faithful- 
ness in  the  discharge  of  his  regular  duties,  and  in  some 
slight  degree  his  taste  and  judgment,  began  to  be  recog- 
nized, and  Mr.  Ludolph  congratulated  himself  that  in 
giving  Dennis  Pat  Murphy's  place  he  had  made  a  decided 
change  for  the  better. 


82  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER   XI 

TOO      MUCH      ALIKE 

ONE  of  the  duties  that  Dennis  enjoyed  most  was  the 
opening  of  new  goods.  With  the  curiosity  and 
pleasure  of  a  child  he  would  unpack  the  treasures 
of  art  c&nsigned  to  his  employer,  and  when  a  number  of 
boxes  were  left  at  the  front  door  he  was  eager  to  see  their 
contents.  During  his  first  three  weeks  at  the  store,  there 
had  not  been  many  such  arrivals  of  goods  and  pictures. 
But  now  new  things  were  coming  in;  and,  above  all,  Mr. 
Ludolph  was  daily  expecting  pictures  imported  directly 
from  Europe. 

One  afternoon  early  in  February  a  large  flat  box  was 
brought  to  the  store.  Mr.  Ludolph  examined  its  marks, 
smiled,  and  told  Dennis  to  open  it  with  great  care,  cutting 
every  nail  with  a  chisel.  There  was  little  need  of  caution- 
ing him,  for  he  would  have  bruised  his  right  hand  rather 
than  mar  one  line  of  beauty. 

The  "Art  Building"  contained  two  or  three  small  show- 
rooms, where  the  more  valuable  pictures  could  be  exhibited 
in  a  good  light.  Into  one  of  these  the  large  box  was  carried, 
and  most  carefully  opened.  The  two  clerks  who  were  help- 
ing Dennis  laughed  at  his  eager  interest,  and  called  him 
under  their  breath  a  "green  'un."  Mr.  Schwartz  looked 
upon  him  as  a  mild  sort  of  lunatic.  But  Mr.  Ludolph,  who 
stood  near,  to  see  if  the  picture  was  safe  and  right,  watched 
him  with  some  curiosity.  His  manner  was  certainly  very 


TOO   MUCH  ALIKE  83 

different  from  Pat  Murphy's  at  such  a  time,  and  his  interest 
both  amused  and  pleased  his  employer. 

When  at  last  the  picture  was  lifted  from  the  box  and 
placed  on  a  large  easel,  all  exclaimed  at  its  beauty  save 
Dennis.  On  looking  at  him,  they  saw  that  his  eyes  had 
filled  with  tears,  and  his  lips  were  quivering  so  that  he 
could  not  have  spoken. 

"Is  she  a  relation  of  yours?"  asked  Mr.  Schwartz,  in  a 
matter-of-fact  tone. 

A  loud  laugh  followed  this  sally  from  such  an  unusual 
source.  Dennis  turned  on  his  heel,  left  the  room,  and  busied 
himself  with  duties  in  a  distant  part  of  the  store  the  rest  of 
the  day.  It  seemed  to  him  that  they  were  like  savages  bar- 
tering away  gold  and  pearls,  whose  value  they  could  not 
understand;  much  less  could  they  realize  his  possession  of 
a  nature  of  exquisite  sensibility  to  beauty. 

When  all  were  gone  he  returned  to  the  room,  and  sat 
down  before  the  picture  in  rapt  attention.  It  was  indeed 
a  fine  work  of  art,  finished  in  that  painstaking  manner  char- 
acteristic of  the  Germans. 

The  painting  was  a  winter  scene  in  Germany.  In  the  far 
background  rose  wooded  and  snow-clad  hills.  Nearer  in 
the  perspective  was  a  bold  bluff,  surmounted  by  a  half- 
ruined  castle.  At  the  base  of  the  bluff  flowed  a  river,  now 
a  smooth  glare  of  ice,  and  in  the  distance  figures  were 
wheeling  about  upon  skates.  In  the  immediate  foreground 
were  two  persons.  One  was  a  lovely  young  girl,  dressed 
in  black  velvet  trimmed  with  ermine.  The  basque  fitted 
closely  to  her  person,  revealing  its  graceful  outlines,  and 
was  evidently  adapted  to  the  active  sport  in  which  she  was 
engaged.  While  the  rich  warm  blood  mantled  her  cheeks, 
the  snow  was  not  whiter  than  her  temples  and  brow.  Down 
her  shoulders  flowed  a  profusion  of  wavy  hair,  scattered 
threads  of  which  glistened  like  gold  in  the  slanting  rays  of 
the  sun.  Her  eyes,  of  a  deep  violet,  were  turned,  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  scorn  of  the  full,  smiling  mouth,  upon  the 
figure  of  a  young  man  kneeling  before  her,  making  awkward 


84  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

attempts  to  fasten  her  skate  to  the  trim  little  foot.  It  was 
evident  that  the  favor  was  too  much  for  him,  and  that  his 
fluttering  heart  made  his  hands  trembling  and  unskilful. 
But  the  expression  of  the  maiden's  face  clearly  indicated 
that  her  heart  was  as  cold  toward  him  as  the  ice  on  which 
he  kneeled. 

The  extreme  beauty  of  the  picture  and  its  exquisite  finish 
fascinated  Dennis,  while  the  girl's  face  jarred  upon  his  feel- 
ings like  a  musical  discord.  After  gazing  fixedly  for  a  long 
time,  he  said,  "What  possessed  the  man  to  paint  such  a 
lovely  face  and  make  its  expression  only  that  of  scorn, 
pride,  and  heartless  merriment?" 

All  the  long  night  the  face  haunted  and  troubled  him. 
He  saw  it  in  his  dreams.  It  had  for  him  a  strong  interest 
that  he  could  not  understand — that  strange  fascination 
which  a  very  beautiful  thing  that  has  been  marred  and 
wronged  has  for  some  natures.  So  powerful  was  this  im- 
pression upon  his  sensitive  nature  that  he  caught  himself 
saying,  as  of  a  living  being,  "Oh,  that  I  could  give  to  that 
face  the  expression  God  meant  it  to  have!" 

And  then  he  laughed  at  his  own  folly. 

His  watchfulness  caused  him  to  oversleep  the  next  morn- 
ing, and  he  was  later  than  usual  in  getting  through  the 
routine  duties  of  the  store.  At  length,  about  nine  o'clock, 
dusty  and  begrimed  from  mopping,  feeding  the  furnace, 
etc.,  he  stood  with  duster  and  brush  in  hand  before  the 
painting  that  had  so  disturbed  his  rest.  He  was  in  his 
shirt- sleeves,  and  in  careful  economy  had  a  large  coarse 
apron  of  ticking  girded  about  his  person.  His  black, 
dishevelled  locks  looked  like  an  inverted  crow's  nest, 
and  altogether  he  was  unpresentable,  appearing  more 
like  the  presiding  divinity  of  a  dust-heap  than  of  an 
"Art  Building." 

After  gazing  a  few  moments  on  the  scornful,  beautiful 
face  that  might  have  obtained  its  haughty  patrician  linea- 
ments from  the  old  barons  of  the  ruined  castle  just  above, 
he  seemed  to  grow  conscious  of  this  himself,  and  shrunk 


TOO    MUCH   ALIKE  85 

behind  the  picture  half  ashamed,  as  if  the  fair  girl  could 
see  him. 

While  engaged  in  cleaning  off  some  stains  and  marks 
upon  the  frame,  he  did  not  hear  a  light  footstep  in  the 
room.  Finishing  his  task,  he  stepped  out  from  behind 
the  picture  with  the  purpose  of  leaving  the  apartment, 
when  a  vision  met  his  gaze  which  startled  him  to  that  de- 
gree that  he  dropped  his  brush  and  duster  upon  the  floor, 
and  stood  transfixed.  There  before  him,  in  flesh  and  blood 
it  seemed,  stood  the  lady  of  the  picture — the  same  dress, 
the  same  beautiful  blond  face,  and,  above  all,  the  same 
expression.  He  was  made  conscious  of  his  absurd  position 
by  a  suppressed  titter  from  the  clerks  at  the  door,  and  a 
broad  laugh  from  Mr.  Ludolph.  The  beautiful  face  turned 
toward  him  for  a  moment,  and  he  felt  himself  looked  over 
from  head  to  foot.  At  first  there  was  an  expression  of  vex- 
ation at  the  interruption,  and  then,  as  if  from  the  ludicrous- 
ness  of  his  appearance,  the  old  laughing,  scornful  look 
returned.  Casting  a  quick,  furtive  glance  at  the  picture, 
which  seemed  to  satisfy  him,  Dennis,  with  hot  cheeks, 
gathered  up  his  tools  and  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  As  he 
passed  out,  Mr.  Ludolph  asked,  good  naturedly,  "Why, 
Fleet,  what  is  the  matter?" 

"Indeed,  sir,  I  hardly  know,"  answered  the  bewildered 
youth,  "but  it  seems  to  me  that  I  have  lost  my  wits  since 
that  picture  came.  For  a  moment  I  thought  that  the  lady 
on  the  canvas  had  stepped  out  upon  the  floor." 

"Now  that  you  speak  of  it,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Ludolph, 
advancing  into  the  room,  "there  is  a  striking  resem- 
blance." 

"Nonsense!  father,"  Dennis  heard  the  young  lady  say; 
"you  are  too  old  to  flatter.  As  for  that  hare-brained  youth 
of  the  dust- brush,  he  looked  as  if  he  might  have  the  fail- 
ing of  poor  Pat,  and  not  always  be  able  to  see  straight." 

At  this  Dennis's  cheeks  grew  hotter  still,  while  a  low 
laugh  from  one  or  two  of  the  clerks  near  showed  that  they 
were  enjoying  his  embarrassment. 


86  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

Dennis  hastened  away  to  his  room,  and  it  was  well  that 
he  did  not  hear  the  conversation  that  followed. 

"Oh,  no!"  responded  Mr.  Ludolph,  "that  is  not  Dennis's 
failing.  He  is  a  member  of  a  church  in  'good  and  regular 
standing.'  He  will  be  one  of  the  'pillars'  by  and  by." 

"You  are  always  having  a  fling  at  superstition  and  the 
superstitious,"  said  his  daughter,  laughingly.  "Is  that 
the  reason  you  installed  him  in  Pat's  place?" 

"Can  you  doubt  it,  my  dear?"  replied  her  father,  in 
mock  solemnity. 

"Well,"  said  she,  "I  think  your  new  factotum  fails  de- 
cidedly in  good  manners,  if  nothing  else.  He  stared  most 
impudently  at  me  when  he  came  out  from  behind  the  pic- 
ture. I  should  have  reprimanded  him  myself  if  I  had  not 
been  so  full  of  laughter  at  his  ridiculous  appearance." 

"That's  the  joke  of  it.  It  was  as  good  as  a  play  to  see 
him.  I  never  saw  a  man  more  startled  and  confused.  He 
evidently  thought  for  a  moment,  as  he  said,  that  the  girl  in 
the  painting  had  stepped  out  upon  the  floor,  and  that  you 
were  she." 

"How  absurd!"  exclaimed  his  daughter. 

"Yes;  and  now  that  I  think  of  it,  he  glanced  from  you 
to  the  picture,  to  satisfy  himself  that  his  senses  were  not 
deceiving  him,  before  he  started  to  come  away." 

"I  cannot  see  any  special  resemblance,"  she  replied,  at 
the  same  time  inwardly  pleased  that  she  should  be  thought 
like  the  beautiful  creature  on  the  canvas. 

"But  there  is  a  strong  resemblance, "  persisted  her  father, 
"especially  in  general  effect  I  will  prove  it  to  you.  There 
is  old  Schwartz;  he  is  not  troubled  with  imagination,  but 
sees  things  just  as  they  are.  He  would  look  at  you,  my 
dainty  daughter,  as  if  you  were  a  bale  of  wool,  and  judge 
as  composedly  and  accurately." 

"I  fear,  my  father,"  replied  she,  smilingly,  "that  you 
have  conspired  with  him  to  pull  the  entire  bale  over  my 
eyes.  But  let  him  come." 

By  this  time  Dennis  had  returned,  and  commenced  dust- 


TOO    MUCH  ALIKE  87 

ing  some  pictures  near  the  entrance,  where  he  could  see  and 
hear.  He  felt  impelled  by  a  curiosity  that  he  could  not  re- 
sist. Moreover  he  had  a  little  natural  vanity  in  wishing  to 
show  that  he  was  not  such  a  guy,  after  all.  It  was  hard  for 
him  to  remember  that  he  stood  in  Pat  Murphy's  position. 
What  difference  did  it  make  to  the  lady  whether  such  as 
he  was  a  fright  or  not? 

Mr.  Schwartz  entered,  and  at  Mr.  Ludolph's  bidding 
looked  at  the  living  and  the  painted  girl.  In  his  slow, 
sententious  tones,  one  could  not  help  feeling  that  he  was 
telling  just  how  things  appeared  to  him.  The  young  lady 
stood  beside  the  painting  and  unconsciously  assumed  the 
expression  of  her  fair  shadow.  Indeed  it  seemed  an  ex- 
pression but  too  habitual  to  her  face. 

"Yes,"  he  said,  "there  is  a  decided  resemblance — close 
in  dress — close  in  complexion — color  of  hair  much  the  same 
— eyes  much  alike — Miss  Ludolph  not  quite  so  tall,"  etc. 
Then  with  an  awkward  attempt  at  a  compliment,  like  an 
elephant  trying  to  execute  a  quickstep,  he  continued: 

"If  I  may  be  permitted  to  be  so  bold  as  to  speak — ex- 
press an  opinion — I  should  beg  leave  to  say  that  Miss  Lu- 
dolph favors  herself — more  favored— is  better- looking,"  he 
blurted  out  at  last,  backing  out  of  the  door  at  the  same 
time,  with  his  brow  bathed  in  perspiration  from  the  throes 
of  this  great  and  unwonted  effort  at  gallantry. 

"Bah!"  said  Dennis  to  himself,  "the  old  mole  left  out 
the  very  chief  thing  in  tracing  the  likeness — the  expres- 
sion !  See  her  now  as  she  listens  to  his  awkward  attempt 
at  compliment.  She  is  looking  at  him  with  the  same  scorn- 
ful, laughing  face  that  the  girl  in  the  picture  wears  toward 
the  bungling  admirer  at  her  feet.  He  is  right  in  one  thing 
though,  she  is  better- looking." 

But  the  moment  Mr.  Schwartz's  bulky  figure  vanished 
from  the  doorway,  Miss  Ludolph  caught  the  critical,  intel- 
ligent gaze  of  Dennis  Fleet,  and  the  expression  of  her  face 
changed  instantly  to  a  frown.  But,  to  do  her  justice,  it  was 
more  in  vexation  with  herself  than  with  him.  Her  innate 


88  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

delicacy  of  feeling  showed  her  that  it  looked  like  small  van- 
ity to  be  standing  there  while  comparisons  like  the  above 
were  instituted.  Her  manner  at  once  became  cold,  observ- 
ant, and  thoroughly  self-possessed.  She  stepped  out  into 
the  store,  and  by  a  few  keen,  critical  glances  seemed  to 
take  in  its  whole  effect.  Again  disapprobation  clouded 
her  fair  brow,  and  she  pronounced  audibly  but  one  word 
—"Stiff." 

Then  she  passed  into  her  father's  private  office. 


BLUE   BLOOD  89 


CHAPTER  XII 

BLUE   BLOOD 

DENNIS'S  mind  was  a  chaos  of  conflicting  feelings. 
The  picture  had  deeply  interested  him,  and  so  did 
the  beautiful  girl  that  it  by  strange  coincidence  so 
strongly  resembled.     It  could  not  be  otherwise  with  one  of 
his  beauty-loving  nature.     And  yet  the  impression  made  by 
the  face  in  the  painting — of  something  wrong,  discordant — 
was  felt  more  decidedly  in  respect  to  the  living  face. 

But  before  he  had  time  to  realize  what  had  just  passed 
the  lady  and  her  father  appeared  at  the  door  of  the  office, 
and  he  heard  the  latter  say:  "I  know  you  are  right,  my 
dear.  It's  all  wrong.  The  arrangement  of  the  store  is  as 
stiff  and  methodical  as  if  we  were  engaged  in  selling  mathe- 
matical instruments.  But  I  have  not  time  to  attend  to  the 
matter,  and  there  is  not  one  in  the  store  that  has  the  least 
idea  of  artistic  combination,  unless  it  is  Fleet.  I  have  no- 
ticed some  encouraging  symptoms  in  him." 

"What!  he  of  the  duster  and  mop?  I  fear  our  case  is 
desperate,  then,  if  he  is  our  best  hope." 

Dennis's  cheeks  were  burning  again;  but,  turning  his 
back,  he  rubbed  away  harder  than  ever  at  a  Greek  god 
that  he  was  polishing.  But  they  gave  him  no  thought. 
Speaking  with  a  sudden  animation  the  young,  lady  said, 
"Father,  I  have  a  great  mind  to  try  it  myself — that  is,  if 
you  are  willing." 

"But,  my  daughter,  I  could  not  permit  you  to  be  en- 
gaged in  any  such  employment  before  our  customers." 

"Certainly  not!     I  would  come  early  in  the  morning, 


90  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

before  art-customers  are  stirring.  I  really  should  enjoy 
the  task  greatly,  if  I  had  any  one  to  help  me  who  could 
in  some  faint  degree  comprehend  the  effects  I  wished  to 
produce.  The  long  spring  mornings  soon  to  come  would 
be  just  the  time  for  it.  To  what  better  use  could  I  put 
my  taste  and  knowledge  of  art  than  in  helping  you.  and 
furthering  our  plan  for  life?" 

Mr.  Ludolph  hesitated  between  his  pride  and  his  strong 
desire  to  gain  the  advantages  which  the  acceptance  of  this 
offer  would  secure.  Finally  he  said:  "We  will  think  about 
it.  I  am  expecting  a  great  many  new  and  beautiful  things 
early  in  the  spring,  and  no  doubt  it  would  be  well  then  to 
rearrange  the  store  completely,  and  break  up  the  rigid  sys- 
tem into  which  we  have  fallen.  In  the  meantime  I  appre- 
ciate your  offer,  and  thank  you  warmly." 

Dennis's  heart  leaped  within  him  at  the  thought  of  in- 
struction from  such  a  teacher,  and  he  longed  to  offer  his 
services.  But  he  rightly  judged  that  the  proposal  would 
be  regarded  as  an  impertinence  at  that  time.  The  succes- 
sor of  Pat  Murphy  was  not  expected  to  know  anything  of 
art,  or  have  any  appreciation  of  it.  So  he  bent  his  head 
lower,  but  gave  Jupiter  Olympus  such  a  rubbing  down  as 
the  god  had  deserved  long  ago.  In  a  moment  more  Miss 
Ludolph  passed  him  on  her  way  out  of  the  store,  noticing 
him  no  more  than  she  did  his  dust- brush. 

Mr.  Ludolph  was  the  younger  son  of  a  noble  but  impov- 
erished German  family,  and  was  intensely  proud  of  his  pa- 
trician blood.  His  parents,  knowing  that  he  would  have  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  had  sent  him,  while  a  mere 
boy,  to  this  country,  and  placed  him  in  charge  of  a  distant 
relative,  who  was  engaged  in  the  picture-trade  in  New  York. 
He  bad  here  learned  to  speak  English  in  his  youth  with  the 
fluency  and  accuracy  of  a  native,  but  had  never  become 
Americanized,  so  much  family  pride  had  he  inherited,  and 
so  strongly  did  he  cling  to  the  traditions  of  his  own  land. 

He  showed  great  business  ability  in  his  chosen  calling, 


BLUE   BLOOD  91 

especially  displaying  remarkable  judgment  in  the  selection 
of  works  of  art.  So  unusual  was  his  skill  in  this  direction, 
that  when  twenty-one  years  old  he  was  sent  abroad  to  pur- 
chase pictures.  For  several  years  he  travelled  through  Eu- 
rope. He  became  quite  cosmopolitan  in  character,  and  for 
a  time  enjoyed  life  abundantly.  His  very  business  brought 
him  in  contact  with  artists  and  men  of  culture,  while  his 
taste  and  love  of  beauty  were  daily  gratified.  He  had 
abundant  means,  and  money  could  open  many  doors  of 
pleasure  to  one  who,  like  him,  was  in  vigorous  health  and 
untroubled  by  a  conscience.  Moreover,  he  was  able  to 
spend  much  time  in  his  beloved  Germany,  and  while 
there  the  great  ambition  of  his  life  entered  his  heart.  His 
elder  brother,  who  was  living  in  exclusive  pride  and  nar- 
row economy  on  the  ancient  but  diminished  ancestral  estate, 
ever  received  him  graciously.  This  brother  had  married, 
but  had  not  been  blessed  or  cursed  with  children,  for  the 
German  baron,  with  his  limited  finances,  could  never  de- 
cide in  what  light  to  regard  them.  Too  poor  to  mingle 
with  his  equals,  too  proud  to  stoop  to  those  whom  he  re- 
garded as  inferiors,  he  had  lived  much  alone,  and  grown 
narrower  and  more  bigoted  in  his  family  pride  day  by  day. 
Indeed,  that  he  was  Baron  Ludolph,  was  the  one  great  fact 
of  his  life.  He  spent  hours  in  conning  over  yellow,  musty 
records  of  the  ancient  grandeur  of  his  house,  and  would 
gloat  over  heroic  deeds  of  ancestors  he  never  thought  of 
imitating.  In  brief,  he  was  like  a  small  barnacle  on  an 
old  and  water-logged  ship,  that  once  had  made  many  a 
gallant  and  prosperous  voyage  richly  freighted,  but  now 
had  drifted  into  shallow  water  and  was  falling  to  decay. 
He  made  a  suggestion,  however,  to  his  younger  brother, 
that  wakened  the  ambition  of  the  latter' s  stronger  nature, 
and  set  him  about  what  became  his  controlling  purpose, 
his  life-work. 

"Make  a  fortune  in  America,"  said  his  brother,  "and 
come  back  and  restore  the  ancient  wealth  and  glory  of  your 
family." 


92  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

The  seed  fell  into  receptive  soil,  and  from  that  day  the 
art  and  pleasure  loving  citizen  of  the  world  became  an  ear- 
nest man  with  a  purpose.  But  as  he  chose  his  purpose  mainly 
from  selfish  motives  it  did  not  become  an  ennobling  one.  He 
now  gave  double  attention  to  business  and  practical  econ- 
omy. He  at  once  formed  the  project  of  starting  in  business 
for  himself,  and  of  putting  the  large  profits  resulting  from 
his  judicious  selection  of  pictures  into  his  own  pocket.  He 
made  the  most  careful  arrangements,  and  secured  agencies 
that  he  could  trust  in  the  purchase  of  pictures  after  he 
should  return  to  the  United  States. 

During  his  stay  in  Paris,  on  his  way  back,  an  event  oc- 
curred that  had  a  most  untoward  influence  on  his  plans  and 
hopes.  He  fell  desperately  in  love  with  a  beautiful  French 
woman.  Like  himself,  she  was  poor,  but  of  patrician  blood, 
and  was  very  fascinating.  She  attracted  him  by  her  extreme 
beauty  and  brilliancy.  She  was  very  shrewd,  and  could 
seem  anything  she  chose,  being  a  perfect  actress  in  the 
false,  hollow  life  of  the  world.  In  accordance  with  Pari- 
sian ideas,  she  wanted  a  husband  to  pay  her  bills,  to  be  a 
sort  of  protector  and  base  of  general  operations.  Here  was 
a  man  who  promised  well,  fine-looking,  and,  if  not  rich, 
capable  of  making  large  sums  of  money. 

She  insinuated  herself  into  his  confidence,  and  appeared 
to  share  his  enthusiasm  for  the  darling  project  of  his  life. 
He  felt  that,  with  such  a  beautiful  and  sympathetic  woman 
to  spur  him  on  and  share  his  success,  earth  would  be  a  Para- 
dise indeed;  and  she  assured  him,  in  many  delicate  and 
bewitching  ways,  that  it  would.  In  brief,  he  married  her; 
and  then  learned,  in  bitterness,  anger,  and  disgust,  that 
she  had  totally  deceived  him.  To  his  passionate  love  she 
returned  indifference;  to  his  desire  for  economy,  unbounded 
extravagance,  contracting  debts  which  he  must  pay  to  avoid 
disgrace.  She  showed  an  utter  unwillingness  to  leave  the 
gayety  of  Paris,  laughing  in  his  face  at  his  plan  of  life,  and 
assuring  him  that  she  would  never  live  in  so  stupid  a  place 
as  Germany.  His  love  died  hard.  He  made  every  appeal 


BLUE   BLOOD  93 

to  her  that  affection  prompted.  He  tried  entreaty,  tender- 
ness, coldness,  anger,  but  all  in  vain.  Selfish  to  the  core, 
loving  him  not,  utterly  unscrupulous,  she  trod  upon  his 
quivering  heart  as  recklessly  as  upon  the  stones  of  the 
street.  Soon  he  saw  that,  in  spite  of  his  vigilance,  he  was 
in  danger  of  being  betrayed  in  all  respects.  Then  he  grew 
hard  and  fierce.  The  whole  of  his  strong  German  nature 
was  aroused.  In  a  tone  and  manner  that  startled  and 
frightened  her,  he  said:  "  We  sail  for  New  York  in  three 
days.  Be  ready.  If  you  prove  unfaithful  to  me — if  you 
seek  to  desert  me,  I  will  kill  you.  I  swear  it — not  by  God, 
for  I  don't  believe  in  Him.  If  He  existed,  such  creatures 
as  you  would  not.  But  I  swear  it  by  my  family  pride  and 
name,  which  are  dearer  to  me  than  life,  if  you  leave  a  stain 
upon  them  you  shall  die.  You  need  not  seek  to  escape  me. 
I  would  follow  you  through  the  world.  I  would  kill  you 
on  the  crowded  street — anywhere,  even  though  I  died  my- 
self the  next  moment.  And  now  look  well  to  your  steps." 

The  glitter  of  his  eye  was  as  cold  and  remorseless  as  the 
sheen  of  steel.  She  saw  that  he  meant  and  would  do  just 
what  he  said. 

The  woman  had  one  good  point — at  least,  it  turned  out 
to  be  such  in  this  case.  She  was  a  coward  naturally,  and 
her  bad  life  made  her  dread  nothing  so  much  as  death. 
Her  former  flippant  indifference  to  his  remonstrances  now 
changed  into  abject  fear.  He  saw  her  weak  side,  learned 
his  power,  and  from  that  time  forward  kept  her  within 
bounds  by  a  judicious  system  of  terrorism. 

He  took  her  to  New  York  and  commanded  her  to  appear 
the  charming  woman  she  could  if  she  chose.  She  obeyed, 
and  rather  enjoyed  the  excitement  and  deceit  His  friends 
were  delighted  with  her,  but  he  received  their  congratula- 
tions with  a  grim,  quiet  smile.  At  times,  though,  when  she 
was  entertaining  them  with  all  grace,  beauty,  and  sweetness, 
the  thought  of  what  she  was  seemed  only  a  horrid  dream. 
But  he  had  merely  to  catch  her  eye,  with  its  gleam  of  fear 
and  hate,  to  know  the  truth. 


94  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

He  felt  that  lie  could  not  trust  to  the  continuance  of  her 
good  behavior,  and  was  anxious  to  get  away  among  strang- 
ers as  soon  as  possible.  He  therefore  closed  his  business  re- 
lations in  New  York.  Though  she  had  crippled  him  greatly 
by  her  extravagance,  he  had  been  able  to  bring  out  a  fair 
stock  of  good  pictures,  and  a  large  number  of  articles  of 
virtu,  selected  with  his  usual  taste.  The  old  firm,  finding 
that  they  could  not  keep  him,  offered  all  the  goods  he  wanted 
on  commission.  So  in  a  few  weeks  he  started  for  Chicago, 
the  most  promising  city  of  the  West,  as  he  believed,  and  es- 
tablished himself  there  in  a  modest  way.  Still  the  chances 
were  even  against  him,  for  he  had  involved  himself  heavily, 
and  drawn  to  the  utmost  on  his  credit  in  starting.  If  he 
could  not  sell  largely  the  first  year,  he  was  a  broken  man. 
For  months  the  balance  wavered,  and  he  lived  with  finan- 
cial ruin  on  one  side,  and  domestic  ruin  on  the  other.  But, 
with  a  heart  of  ice  and  nerves  of  steel,  he  kept  his  hand  on 
the  helm. 

His  beautiful  collection,  though  in  an  unpretentious 
store,  at  last  attracted  attention,  and  after  some  little  time 
it  became  the  thing  in  the  fashionable  world  to  go  there,  and 
from  that  time  forward  his  fortune  was  made. 

When  his  wife  became  a  mother,  there  was  a  faint  hope 
in  Mr.  Ludolph's  heart  that  this  event  might  awaken  the 
woman  within  her,  if  aught  of  the  true  woman  existed.  He 
tried  to  treat  her  with  more  kindness,  but  found  it  would 
not  answer.  She  mistook  it  for  weakness  on  his  part. 
From  first  to  last  she  acted  in  the  most  heartless  manner, 
and  treated  the  child  with  shameless  neglect.  This  ban- 
ished from  her  husband  even  the  shadow  of  regard,  and 
he  cursed  her  to  her  face.  Thenceforth  will  and  ambition 
controlled  his  life  and  hers,  and  with  an  iron  hand  he  held 
her  in  check.  She  saw  that  she  was  in  the  power  of  a  des- 
perate man,  who  would  sacrifice  her  in  a  moment  if  she 
thwarted  him. 

Through  cowardly  fear  she  remained  his  reluctant  but 
abject  slave,  pricking  him  with  the  pins  and  needles  of 


BLUE   BLOOD  95 

annoyances,  when  she  would  have  pierced  him  to 
the  heart  had  she  dared.  This  monstrous  state  of  affairs 
could  not  last  forever,  and,  had  not  death  terminated  the 
unnatural  relation,  some  terrible  catastrophe  would  no 
doubt  have  occurred.  Having  contracted  a  western  fever, 
she  soon  became  delirious,  and  passed  away  in  this  uncon- 
scious state,  to  the  intense  joy  and  relief  of  her  husband. 

But  the  child  lived,  thrived,  and  developed  into  the 
graceful  girl  whose  beauty  surpassed,  as  we  have  seen,  even 
the  painter's  ideal.  Her  father  at  first  cared  little  for  the 
infant,  but  secured  it  every  attention.  As  it  developed  into 
a  pretty  girl,  however,  with  winning  ways,  and  rich  prom- 
ise, he  gradually  associated  her  with  his  hopes  and  plans, 
till  at  last  she  became  an  essential  part  of  his  ambition. 

His  plan  now  was  briefly  this:  He  would  entangle  him- 
self with  no  alliances  or  intimate  associations  in  America, 
nor  would  he  permit  his  daughter  to  do  so.  His  only  object 
in  staying  here  was  the  accumulation  of  a  large  fortune,  and 
to  this  for  a  few  years  he  would  bend  every  energy  of  mind 
and  body.  As  soon  as  he  felt  that  he  had  sufficient  means 
to  live  in  such  style  as  befitted  the  ancient  and  honorable 
name  of  his  family,  he  would  return  to  Germany,  buy  all 
he  could  of  the  ancestral  estate  that  from  time  to  time  had 
been  parted  with,  and  restore  his  house  to  its  former  gran- 
deur. He  himself  would  then  seek  a  marriage  connection 
that  would  strengthen  his  social  position,  while  his  daugh- 
ter also  should  make  a  brilliant  alliance  with  some  member 
of  the  nobility.  Mr.  Ludolph  was  a  handsome,  well-pre- 
served man;  he  had  been  most  successful  in  business,  and 
was  now  more  rapidly  than  ever  accumulating  that  which  is 
truly  a  power  with  Europeans  of  blue  blood,  as  with  demo- 
cratic Americans.  Moreover,  his  daughter's  beauty  prom- 
ised to  be  such  that,  when  enhanced  by  every  worldly 
advantage,  it  might  well  command  attention  in  the  highest 
circles.  He  sought  with  scrupulous  care  to  give  her  just 
the  education  that  would  enable  her  to  shine  as  a  star  among 
the  high-born.  Art,  music,  and  knowledge  of  literature, 


96  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

especially  the  German,  were  the  main  things  to  which  her 
attention  was  directed,  and  in  her  father,  with  his  richly 
stored  mind,  faultless  taste,  and  cultured  voice,  she  had  an 
instructor  such  as  rarely  falls  to  the  lot  of  the  most  favored. 

When  Christine  Ludolph  was  about  sixteen  years  of 
age,  events  occurred  which  might  have  greatly  marred  her 
father's  plans.  She  secretly  formed  a  most  unfortunate 
attachment,  which  came  near  resulting  in  a  clandestine 
marriage.  Although  the  world  would  have  judged  her 
harshly,  and  the  marriage  could  only  have  been  exceed- 
ingly disastrous  to  her  future  life,  the  motherless  girl  was 
not  very  much  to  blame.  Even  among  the  mature  there  is 
a  proverbial  blindness  in  these  matters.  She  was  immature, 
misled  by  her  imagination,  and  the  victim  of  uncurbed  ro- 
mantic fancies.  But,  after  all,  the  chief  incentive  to  her 
folly  was  a  natural  craving  for  the  love  and  sympathy 
which  she  had  never  found  in  her  own  home.  To  her 
chilled  young  heart  these  gifts  were  so  sweet  and  satisfying 
that  she  was  in  no  mood  to  criticise  the  donor,  even  had  her 
knowledge  of  the  world  enabled  her  to  do  so.  Thus  far,  in 
his  care  of  Christine,  Mr.  Ludolph  had  conformed  to  the 
foreign  ideas  of  seclusion  and  repression,  and  the  poor  girl, 
unguided,  unguarded  by  kind  womanly  counsel,  was  utterly 
unsophisticated,  and  she  might  have  easily  become  the  prey 
of  the  unscrupulous  man  whose  chief  incentive  had  been  her 
father's  wealth.  Mr.  Ludolph  fortunately  discovered  the 
state  of  affairs  in  time  to  prevent  gossip.  Under  his  re- 
morseless logic,  bitter  satire,  and  ridicule  her  young  dream 
was  torn  to  shreds.  The  man  whom  she  had  surrounded 
with  a  halo  of  romance  was  shown  to  be  worthless  and  com- 
monplace. Her  idol  had  chiefly  been  a  creature  of  the  im- 
agination, and  when  the  bald,  repulsive  truth  concerning 
him  had  been  proved  to  her  in  such  a  way  that  she  could 
not  escape  conviction,  she  was  equally  disgusted  with  him 
and  herself. 

For  some  weeks  Mr.  Ludolph  treated  his  daughter  with 
cold  distrust.  "She  will  be  like  her  mother,  I  suppose," 


BLUE   BLOOD  97 

he  thought.  "Already  she  has  begun  to  deceive  me  and  to 
imperil  everything  by  her  folly;"  and  his  heart  was  full  of 
bitterness  toward  his  child.  Thus  the  poor  girl  dwelt  in  a 
chilled  and  blighting  atmosphere  at  a  time  when  she  most 
sorely  needed  kindness  and  wise  guidance. 

She  was  very  unhappy,  for  she  saw  that  her  father  had 
lost  all  confidence  in  her.  She  fairly  turned  sick  when  she 
thought  of  the  past.  She  had  lived  in  the  world  of  romance 
and  mystery;  she  had  loved  with  all  her  girlish  power;  and, 
however  wrongly  and  unjustly,  by  the  inevitable  laws  of 
association  she  connected  the  words  "love"  and  "romance" 
with  one  whom  she  now  detested  and  loathed.  Within  a 
week  after  her  miserable  experience  she  became  as  utter 
a  sceptic  in  regard  to  human  Jove,  and  happiness  flowing 
from  it,  as  her  father  had  taught  her  to  be  respecting  God 
and  the  joy  of  believing.  Though  seemingly  a  fair  young 
girl,  her  father  had  made  her  worse  than  a  pagan.  She 
believed  in  nothing  save  art  and  her  father's  wisdom.  He 
seemed  to  embody  the  culture  and  worldly  philosophy  that 
now  became,  in  her  judgment,  the  only  things  worth  living 
for.  To  gain  his  confidence  became  her  great  desire.  But 
this  had  received  a  severe  shock.  Mr.  Ludolph  had  lost  all 
faith  in  everything  save  money  and  his  own  will.  Keligion 
was  to  him  a  gross  superstition,  and  woman's  virtue  and 
truth,  poetic  fictions. 

He  watched  Christine  narrowly,  and  said  just  enough 
to  draw  out  the  workings  of  her  mind.  He  then  decided  to 
tell  his  plan  for  life,  and  give  her  strong  additional  motives 
for  doing  his  will.  The  picture  he  portrayed  of  the  future 
dazzled  her  proud,  ambitious  spirit,  and  opened  to  her  fancy 
what  then  seemed  the  only  path  to  happiness.  She  entered 
into  his  projects  with  honest  enthusiasm,  and  bound  herself 
by  the  most  solemn  promises  to  aid  in  carrying  them  out. 
Bat  in  bitterness  he  remembered  one  who  had  promised 
with  seeming  enthusiasm  before,  and  he  distrusted  his 
daughter,  watching  her  with  lynx-eyed  vigilance. 

But  gradually  he  began  to  believe  in  her  somewhat,  as 
ROE— Y— 5 


98  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

he  saw  her  looking  forward  with  increasing  eagerness  to  the 
heaven  of  German  fashionable  life,  wherein  she,  rich,  ad- 
mired, allied  by  marriage  to  some  powerful  noble  family, 
should  shine  a  queen  in  the  world  of  art. 

UI  have  joined  her  aspirations  to  mine,"  he  said,  in  self- 
gratulation.  "I  have  blended  our  ambitions  and  sources 
of  hope  and  enjoyment,  and  that  is  better  than  all  her 
promises." 

When  Dennis  saw  first  the  face  that  was  so  beautiful  and 
yet  so  marred  by  pride  and  selfishness,  Christine  was  about 
nineteen  years  old,  and  yet  as  mature  in  some  respects  as  a 
woman  of  thirty.  She  had  the  perfect  self-possession  that 
familiarity  with  the  best  society  gives.  Mr.  Ludolph  was 
now  too  shrewd  to  seek  safety  in  seclusion.  He  went  with 
his  daughter  into  the  highest  circles  of  the  city,  and  Chris- 
tine had  crowds  of  admirers  and  many  offers.  All  this  she 
enjoyed,  but  took  it  coolly  as  her  right,  with  the  air  of  a 
Greek  goddess  accepting  the  incense  that  rose  in  her  temple. 
She  was  too  proud  and  refined  to  flirt  in  the  ordinary  sense 
of  the  word,  and  no  one  could  complain  that  she  gave  much 
encouragement.  But  this  state  of  things  was  all  the  more 
stimulating,  and  each  one  believed,  with  confidence  in  his 
peculiar  attractions,  that  he  might  succeed  where  all  others 
had  failed.  Miss  Ludolph 's  admirers  were  unaware  that 
they  had  a  rival  in  some  as  yet  unknown  German  nobleman. 
At  last  it  passed  into  a  proverb  that  the  beautiful  and  bril- 
liant girl  who  was  so  free  and  courtly  in  society  was  as  cold 
and  unsusceptible  as  one  of  her  father's  statues. 

Thus  it  would  seem  that  when  circumstances  brought 
the  threads  of  these  two  lives  near  each  other,  Dennis's  and 
Christine's,  the  most  impassable  barriers  rose  between  them, 
and  that  the  threads  could  never  be  woven  together,  or  the 
lives  blended.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  wealthy,  aristo- 
cratic Mr.  Ludolph;  he  was  her  father's  porter. 

Next  to  the  love  of  art,  pride  and  worldly  ambition  were 
her  strongest  characteristics.  She  was  an  unbeliever  in  God 
and  religion,  not  from  conviction,  but  from  training.  She 


BLUE   BLOOD  99 

knew  very  little  about  either,  and  what  light  she  had  came 
to  her  through  false  mediums.  She  did  not  even  believe  in 
that  which  in  many  young  hearts  is  religion's  shadow,  love 
and  romance,  nor  did  her  father  take  a  more  worldly  and 
practical  view  of  life  than  she. 

In  marked  contrast  we  have  seen  the  character  of  Dennis 
Fleet,  drawing  its  inspiration  from  such  different  sources. 

Could  two  human  beings  be  more  widely  separated — 
separated  in  that  which  divides  more  surely  than  conti- 
nents and  seas? 

Could  Dennis  have  seen  her  warped,  deformed  moral 
nature,  as  clearly  as  her  beautiful  face  and  form,  he  would 
have  shrunk  from  her;  but  while  recognizing  defects,  he 
shared  the  common  delusion,  that  the  lovely  outward  form 
and  face  must  enshrine  much  that  is  noble  and  ready  to 
blossom  into  good,  if  the  right  motives  can  be  presented. 

As  for  Christine,  she  had  one  chance  for  life,  one 
chance  for  heaven.  She  was  young.  Her  nature  had  not 
so  hardened  and  crystallized  in  evil  as  to  be  beyond  new 
and  happier  influences. 


100  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  XIII 

VERY   COLD 

WHEN  Dennis  entered  Mr.  Ludolph's  store  Christine 
was  absent  on  a  visit  to  New  York.  On  her  re- 
turn she  resumed  her  old  routine.  At  this  time 
she  and  her  father  were  occupy iDg  a  suite  of  rooms  at  a 
fashionable  hotel.  Her  school- days  were  over,  Mr.  Ludolph 
preferring  to  complete  her  education  himself  in  accordance 
with  his  peculiar  views  and  tastes.  She  was  just  passing 
into  her  twentieth  year,  and  looked  upon  the  world  ftom 
the  vantage  points  of  health,  beauty,  wealth,  accomplish- 
ments of  the  highest  order,  and  the  best  social  standing. 
Assurance  of  a  long  and  brilliant  career  possessed  her  mind, 
while  pride  and  beauty  were  like  a  coronet  upon  her  brow. 
She  was  the  world's  ideal  of  a  queen. 

And  yet  she  was  not  truly  happy.  There  was  ever  a 
vague  sense  of  unrest  and  dissatisfaction  at  heart.  She  saw 
that  her  father  was  proud  and  ambitious  in  regard  to  her, 
but  she  instinctively  felt  that  he  neither  loved  nor  trusted 
her  to  any  great  extent.  She  seemed  to  be  living  in  a  pal- 
ace of  ice,  and  at  times  felt  that  she  was  turning  into  ice 
herself;  but  her  very  humanity  and  womanhood,  deadened 
and  warped  though  they  were,  cried  out  against  the  cold  of 
a  life  without  God  or  love.  In  the  depths  of  her  soul  she 
felt  that  something  was  wrong,  but  what,  she  could  not 
understand.  It  seemed  that  she  had  everything  that  heart 
could  wish,  and  that  she  ought  to  be  satisfied. 

She  had  at  last  concluded  that  her  restlessness  was  the 
prompting  of  a  lofty  ambition,  and  that  if  she  chose  she 


VERY  COLD  101 

could  win  world- wide  celebrity  as  an  artist.  This,  with 
the  whole  force  of  her  strong  nature,  she  had  determined 
to  do,  and  for  over  two  years  had  worked  with  an  energy 
akin  to  enthusiasm.  She  had  resolved  that  painting  should 
be  the  solid  structure  of  her  success,  and  music  its  ornament. 

Nor  were  her  dreams  altogether  chimerical,  for  she  had 
remarkable  talent  in  her  chosen  field  of  effort,  and  had  been 
taught  to  use  the  brush  and  pencil  from  childhood.  She 
could  imitate  with  skill  and  taste,  and  express  with  great 
accuracy  the  musical  thought  of  the  composer;  but  she 
could  not  create  new  effects,  and  this  had  already  begun 
to  trouble  her.  She  worked  hard  and  patiently,  determined 
to  succeed.  So  great  had  been  her  application  that  her 
father  saw  the  need  of  rest  and  change,  and  therefore  her 
visit  to  New  York.  She  had  now  returned  strengthened, 
and  eager  for  her  former  studies,  and  resumed  them  with 
tenfold  zest. 

The  plan  of  rearranging  the  store  on  artistic  principles 
daily  grew  in  favor  with  her.  It  was  just  the  exercise  of 
taste  she  delighted  in,  and  she  hoped  some  day  to  indulge  it 
on  palace  walls  that  would  be  her  own.  Her  father's  pride 
caused  him  to  hesitate  for  some  time,  but  she  said:  "Why, 
Chicago  is  not  our  home;  we  shall  soon  be  thousands  of 
miles  away.  You  know  how  little  we  really  care  for  the 
opinions  of  the  people  here:  it  is  only  our  own  pride  and 
opinion  that  we  need  consult.  I  see  nothing  lowering  or 
unfeminine  in  the  work.  I  shall  scarcely  touch  a  thing 
myself,  merely  direct;  for  surely  among  all  in  your  employ 
there  must  be  one  or  two  pairs  of  hands  not  so  utterly  awk- 
ward but  that  they  can  follow  plain  instructions.  My  taste 
shall  do  it  all.  We  are  Hoth  early  risers,  and  the  whole 
change  can  be  made  before  the  store  is  opened.  Moreover, ' ' 
she  added  (with  an  expression  indicating  that  she  would 
have  little  difficulty  in  ruling  her  future  German  castle, 
and  its  lord  also),  "this  is  an  affair  of  our  own.  Those  you 
employ  ought  to  understand  by  this  time  that  it  is  neither 
wise  nor  safe  to  talk  of  our  business  outside." 


102  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

After  a  moment's  thought  she  concluded:  "I  really  think 
that  the  proper  arrangement  of  everything  in  the  store  as 
to  light,  display,  and  effect,  so  that  people  of  taste  will  be 
pleased  when  they  enter,  would  add  thousands  of  dollars  to 
your  sales;  and  this  rigid  system  of  old  Schwartz's,  which 
annoys  us  both  beyond  endurance,  will  be  broken  up." 

Won  over  by  arguments  that  accorded  with  his  inclina- 
tions, Mr.  Ludolph  gave  his  daughter  permission  to  carry 
out  the  plan  in  her  own  way. 

She  usually  accompanied  her  father  to  the  store  in  the 
morning.  He,  after  a  brief  glance  around,  would  go  to  his 
private  office  and  attend  to  correspondence.  She  would  do 
whatever  her  mood  prompted.  Sometimes  she  would  sit 
down  for  a  half-hour  before  one  picture;  again  she  would 
examine  most  critically  a  statue  or  a  statuette.  Whenever 
new  music  was  received,  she  looked  it  over  and  carried  off 
such  pieces  as  pleased  her  fancy. 

She  evidently  was  a  privileged  character,  and  no  one 
save  her  father  exercised  the  slightest  control  over  her 
movements.  She  treated  all  the  clerks,  save  old  Schwartz, 
as  if  they  were  animated  machines;  and  by  a  quiet  order, 
as  if  she  had  touched  a  spring,  would  set  them  in  motion 
to  do  her  bidding.  The  young  men  in  the  store  were  of 
German  descent,  and  rather  heavy  and  undemonstrative. 
Mr.  Schwartz's  system  of  order  and  repression  had  pretty 
thoroughly  quenched  them.  They  were  educated  to  the 
niches  they  filled,  and  seemed  to  have  no  thought  beyond; 
therefore  they  were  all  unruffled  at  Miss  Ludolph' s  air  of 
absolute  sovereignty.  Mr.  Schwartz  was  as  obsequious  as 
the  rest,  but,  as  second  to  her  father  in  power,  was  per- 
mitted some  slight  familiarity.  In  fact  this  heavy,  stolid 
prime-minister  both  amused  and  annoyed  her,  and  she 
treated  him  with  the  caprice  of  a  child  toward  an  elephant 
— at  times  giving  him  the  sugar- plum  of  a  compliment,  and 
oftener  pricking  him  with  the  pin  of  some  caustic  remark. 
To  him  she  was  the  perfection  of  womankind — her  reserved, 
dispassionate  manner,  her  steady,  unwearied  prosecution  of 


VERY   COLD  103 

a  purpose,  being  just  the  qualities  that  he  most  honored; 
and  he  worshipped  her  reverently  at  a  distance,  like  an  old 
astrologer  adoring  some  particularly  bright  fixed  star.  No 
whisking  comets  or  changing  satellites  for  old  Schwartz. 

As  for  Dennis,  she  treated  him  as  she  probably  had 
treated  Pat  Murphy,  and  for  several  days  had  no  occasion 
to  notice  him  at  all.  In  fact  he  kept  out  of  her  way,  choos- 
ing at  first  to  observe  rather  than  be  observed.  She  became 
an  artistic  study  to  him,  for  her  every  movement  was  grace 
itself,  except  that  there  was  no  softness  or  gentleness  in  her 
manner.  Her  face  fascinated  him  by  its  beauty,  though  its 
expression  troubled  him — it  was  so  unlike  his  mother's,  so 
unlike  what  he  felt  a  woman's  ought  to  be.  But  her  eager 
interest  in  that  which  was  becoming  so  dear  to  him — art — 
would  have  covered  a  multitude  of  sins  in  his  eyes,  and 
with  a  heart  abounding  in  faith  and  hope,  not  yet  dimin- 
ished by  hard  experience,  he  believed  that  the  undeveloped 
angel  existed  within  her.  But  he  remembered  her  frown 
when  she  had  first  noticed  his  observation  of  her.  The 
shrewd  Yankee  youth  saw  that  her  pride  would  not  brook 
even  a  curious  glance.  But  while  he  kept  at  a  most  respect- 
ful distance  he  felt  that  there  was  no  such  wide  gulf  be- 
tween them  as  she  imagined.  By  birth  and  education  he 
was  as  truly  entitled  to  her  acquaintance  as  the  young  men 
who  sometimes  came  into  the  store  with  her  and  whom  she 
met  in  society.  Position  and  wealth  were  alone  wanting, 
and  in  spite  of  his  hard  experience  and  lowly  work  he  felt 
that  there  must  be  some  way  for  him,  as  for  others,  to 
win  these. 

He  longed  for  the  society  of  ladies,  as  every  right-feeling 
young  man  does,  and  to  one  of  his  nature  the  grace  and 
beauty  of  woman  were  peculiarly  attractive.  If,  before  she 
came,  the  lovely  faces  of  the  pictures  had  filled  the  place 
with  a  sort  of  witchery,  and  created  about  him  an  atmos- 
phere in  which  his  artist- soul  was  awakening  into  life  and 
growth,  how  much  more  would  it  be  true  of  this  living 
vision  of  beauty  that  glided  in  and  OUT  every  day! 


104  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

"She  does  not  notice  me,"  he  at  first  said  to  himself, 
4 'any  more  than  do  these  lovely  shadows  upon  the  canvas. 
But  why  need  I  care  ?  I  can  study  both  them  and  her,  and 
thus  educate  my  eye,  and  I  hope  my  hand,  to  imitate  and 
perhaps  surpass  their  perfections  in  time. ' ' 

But  this  cool,  philosophic  mood  did  not  last  long.  It 
might  answer  very  well  in  regard  to  the  pictures  on  the 
walls,  but  there  was  a  magnetism  about  this  living,  breath- 
ing woman  that  soon  caused  him  to  long  for  the  privilege 
of  being  near  her  and  speaking  to  her  of  that  subject  that 
interested  them  both  so  deeply.  Though  he  had  never  seen 
any  of  her  paintings  to  know  them,  he  soon  saw  that  she 
•was  no  novice  in  such  matters  and  that  she  looked  at  works 
of  art  with  the  eye  of  a  connoisseur.  In  revery  he  had  many 
a  spirited  conversation  with  her,  and  he  trusted  that  some 
day  his  dreams  would  become  real.  He  had  the  romantic 
hope  that  if  she  should  discover  his  taste  and  strong  love 
of  art  she  might  at  first  bestow  upon  him  a  patronizing 
interest  which  would  gradually  grow  into  respect  and  ac- 
knowledged equality. 


SHE   SPEAKS    TO    HIM  105 


CHAPTBE  XIV 

SHE     SPEAKS    TO     HIM 

AFTER  the  plan  for  the  re- arrangement  of  the  store 
had  been  determined  upon,  Miss  Ludolph  began  to 
study  its  topography.  She  went  regularly  through 
the  building,  examining  closely  every  part  and  space,  some- 
times sketching  a  few  outlines  in  a  little  gilt  book.  Appar- 
ently she  was  seeking  by  her  taste  to  make  the  show-rooms 
pictures  in  themselves,  wherein  all  the  parts  should  blend 
harmoniously,  and  create  one  beautiful  effect.  Dennis  saw 
what  was  coming.  The  carrying-out  of  the  plan  he  had 
heard  discussed,  and  he  wished  with  intense  longing  that 
he  might  be  her  assistant.  But  she  would  as  soon  have 
thought  of  sending  for  Pat  Murphy.  She  intended  to  select 
one  of  the  older  clerks  to  aid  her.  Still  Dennis  hoped  that 
by  some  strange  and  happy  turn  of  fortune  part  of  this 
work  might  fall  to  him. 

Every  spare  moment  of  early  morning  and  evening  he 
spent  in  sketching  and  studying,  but  he  sadly  felt  the  need 
of  instruction,  and  of  money  to  buy  materials.  He  was 
merely  groping  his  way  as  best  he  might;  and  he  felt  that 
Miss  Ludolph  could  teach  him  so  much,  if  she  would  only 
condescend  to  the  task!  He  was  willing  to  be  a  very  hum- 
ble learner  at  first.  If  in  some  way  he  could  only  make 
known  his  readiness  to  pick  up  the  crumbs  of  knowledge 
that  she  might  be  willing  out  of  kindness  to  scatter  in  his 
path,  he  might  expect  something  from  ordinary  good  nature. 

But  a  week  or  two  passed  without  his  receiving  so  much 
as  a  glance  from  those  cold  blue  eyes  that  rested  so  critically 


106  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

on  all  before  them;  and  on  an  unlucky  day  in  March  all 
hope  of  help  from  her  vanished. 

Under  the  influence  of  spring  the  streets  were  again  be- 
coming muddy,  and  his  duties  as  bootblack  increased  daily. 
He  had  arranged  to  perform  this  menial  task  in  a  remote 
corner  of  the  store,  as  much  out  of  sight  as  possible.  The 
duty  had  become  still  more  disagreeable  since  the  young 
lady  haunted  the  place,  for  he  feared  she  would  learn  to 
associate  him  only  with  the  dust-brush  and  blacking-brush. 

Just  behind  where  he  usually  stood,  a  good  picture  had 
been  hung,  under  Mr.  Schwartz's  system,  simply  because 
it  accurately  fitted  the  space.  It  was  in  a  wretched  light, 
and  could  never  be  seen  or  appreciated  there,  Miss  Ludolph 
in  her  investigations  and  plannings  discovered  this  at  a  time 
most  unfortunate  for  poor  Dennis.  While  polishing  away 
one  morning,  he  suddenly  became  conscious  that  she  was 
approaching.  It  seemed  that  she  was  looking  directly  at 
him,  and  was  about  to  speak.  His  heart  thumped  like  a 
trip-hammer,  his  cheeks  burned,  and  a  blur  came  over  his 
eyes,  for  he  was  diffident  in  ladies'  presence.  Therefore  he 
stood  before  her  the  picture  of  confusion,  with  a  big  boot 
poised  in  one  hand,  and  the  polishing- brush  in  the  other. 
With  the  instincts  of  a  gentleman,  however,  he  made  an 
awkward  bow,  feeling,  though,  that  under  the  circumstances 
his  politeness  could  only  appear  ridiculous.  And  he  was 
right.  It  was  evident  from  the  young  lady's  face  that  her 
keen  perception  of  the  ridiculous  was  thoroughly  aroused. 
But  for  the  sake  of  her  own  dignity  (she  cared  not  a  jot 
for  him),  she  bit  her  lip  to  control  her  desire  to  laugh  in 
his  face,  and  said,  rather  sharply,  "Will  you  stand  out  of 
my  way  ?' ' 

She  had  spoken  to  him. 

He  was  so  mortified  and  confused  that  in  his  effort  to  obey 
he  partially  fell  over  a  bronze  sheep,  designed  to  ornament 
some  pastoral  scene,  and  the  heel  of  Mr.  Schwartz's  heavy 
boot  came  down  with  a  thump  that  made  everything  ring. 
There  was  a  titter  from  some  of  the  clerks.  Mr.  Ludolph, 


SHE   SPEAKS    TO   HIM  107 

who  was  following  his  daughter,  exclaimed,  u What's  the 
matter,  Fleet?  You  seem  rather  unsteady,  this  morning, 
for  a  church  member." 

For  a  moment  he  had  the  general  appearance  usually 
ascribed  to  the  sheep,  his  unlucky  stumbling-block.  But 
by  a  strong  effort  he  recovered  himself.  Deigning  no  reply, 
he.  set  his  teeth,  compressed  his  lips,  picked  up  the  boot, 
and  polished  away  as  before,  trying  to  look  and  feel  regard- 
less of  all  the  world.  In  fact  there  was  as  much  pride  in 
his  face  as  there  had  ever  been  in  hers.  But,  not  noticing 
him,  she  said  to  her  father:  "Here  is  a  specimen.  Look 
where  this  picture  is  hung.  In  bootblack  corner  I  should 
term  it.  It  would  not  sell  here  in  a  thousand  years,  for 
what  little  light  there  is  would  be  obscured  much  of  the 
time  by  somebody's  big  boots  and  the  artist  in  charge. 
It  has  evidently  been  placed  here  in  view  of  one  principle 
alone — dimensions;  its  length  and  breadth  according  with 
the  space  in  the  corner.  You  will  see  what  a  change  I  will 
bring  about  in  a  month  or  two,  after  my  plans  are  ma- 
tured;" and  then  she  strolled  to  another  part  of  the  store. 
But,  before  leaving,  Miss  Ludolph  happened  to  glance  at 
Dennis's  face,  and  was  much  struck  by  its  expression. 
Surely  Pat  Murphy  never  would  or  could  look  like  that. 
For  the  first  time  the  thought  entered  her  mind  that  Dennis 
might  be  of  a  different  clay  and  character  from  Pat.  But 
the  next  moment  his  expression  of  pride  and  offended  dig- 
nity, in  such  close  juxtaposition  to  the  big  boot  lie  was 
twirling  almost  savagely  around,  again  appealed  to  her 
sense  of  the  ludicrous,  and  she  turned  away  with  a  broad 
smile.  Dennis,  looking  up,  saw  the  smile  and  guessed  the 
cause;  and  when,  a  moment  after,  Mr.  Schwartz  appeared, 
asking  in  his  loud,  blunt  way,  "My  boots  ready?"  he  felt 
like  flinging  both  at  his  head,  and  leaving  the  store  forever. 
Handing  them  to  him  without  a  word,  he  hastened  upstairs, 
for  he  felt  that  he  must  be  alone. 

At  first  his  impulse  was  strong  to  rebel — to  assert  that 
by  birth  and  education  he  was  a  gentleman,  and  must  be 


108  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

treated  as  such,  or  he  would  go  elsewhere.  But,  as  the 
tumult  in  his  mind  calmed,  the  case  became  as  clear  to  him 
as  a  sum  in  addition.  He  had  voluntarily  taken  Pat  Mur- 
phy's place,  and  why  should  he  complain  at  Pat's  treat- 
ment ?  He  had  pledged  his  word  that  there  should  be  no 
trouble  from  his  being  above  his  business,  and  he  resolved 
to  keep  his  word  till  Providence  gave  him  better  work  to 
do.  He  bathed  his  hot  face  in  cool  water,  breathed  a  brief 
prayer  for  strength  and  patience,  and  went  back  to  his  tasks 
strong  and  calm. 


PROMOTED  109 


CHAPTER  XV 

PROMOTED 

LATE  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  (which  was 
Saturday),  as  Mr.  Ludolph  was  passing  out  of  the 
store  on  his  way  home,  he  noticed  the  table  that  he 
had  arranged  artistically  some  little  time  before  as  a  lesson 
to  his  clerks.  Gradually  it  had  fallen  back  into  its  old 
straight  lines  and  rigid  appearance.  He  seemed  greatly 
annoyed. 

"What  is  the  use  of  re-arranging  the  store?"  he  mut- 
tered. "They  will  have  it  all  back  again  on  the  general 
principle  of  a  ^  ramrod  in  a  little  while.  But  we  have  put 
our  hands  to  this  work,  and  it  shall  be  carried  through, 
even  if  I  discharge  half  of  these  wooden- heads. " 

Then  calling  the  clerk  in  charge,  he  said,  "Look  here, 
Mr.  Berder,  I  grouped  the  articles  on  this  counter  for  you 
once,  did  I  not?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Let  me  find  them  Monday  morning  just  as  I  arranged 
them  on  that  occasion." 

The  young  man  looked  as  blank  and  dismayed  as  if  he 
had  been  ordered  to  swallow  them  all  before  Monday 
morning. 

He  went  to  work  and  jumbled  them  up  as  if  that  were 
grouping  them,  and  then  asked  one  or  two  of  the  other 
clerks  what  they  thought  of  it.  They  shook  their  heads, 
and  said  it  looked  worse  than  before. 

"I  vill  study  over  him  all  day  to-morrow,  and  den  vill 


110  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

• 

come  early  Monday  and  fix  him;"  and  the  perplexed  youth 
took  himself  off. 

Dennis  felt  almost  sure  that  he  could  arrange  it  as  Mr. 
Ludolph  had  done,  or  with  something  of  the  same  effect, 
but  did  not  like  to  offer  his  services,  not  knowing  how  they 
would  be  received,  for  Mr.  Berder  had  taken  special  delight 
in  snubbing  him. 

After  the  duties  of  the  store  were  over,  Dennis  wrote  to 
his  mother  a  warm,  bright,  filial  letter,  portraying  the  scene 
of  the  day  in  its  comic  light,  making  all  manner  of  fun  of 
himself,  that  he  might  hide  the  fact  that  he  had  suffered. 
But  he  did  not  hide  it,  as  a  return  letter  proved,  for  it  was 
full  of  sympathy  and  indignation  that  her  son  should  be  so 
treated,  but  also  full  of  praise  for  his  Christian  manliness 
and  patience. 

"And  now,  my  son,"  she  wrote,  "let  me  tell  you  of  at 
Aast  two  results  of  your  steady,  faithful  performance  of 
your  present  humble  duties.  The  money  you  send  so 
regularly  is  more  than  sufficient  for  our  simple  wants. 
We  have  every  comfort,  and  1  am  laying  something  by 
for  sickness  and  trouble,  for  both  are  pretty  sure  to  come 
before  long  in  this  world.  In  the  second  place,  you  have 
given  me  that  which  is  far  better  than  money — comfort  and 
strength.  I  feel  more  and  more  that  we  can  lean  upon  you 
as  our  earthly  support,  and  not  find  you  a  'broken  reed.1 
While  so  many  sons  are  breaking  their  mothers'  hearts, 
you  are  filling  mine  with  hope  and  joy.  I  am  no  prophet- 
ess, my  son,  but  from  the  sure  word  of  God  I  predict  for 
you  much  happiness  and  prosperity  for  thus  cheering  and 
providing  for  your  widowed  mother.  Mark  my  words. 
God  has  tried  you  and  not  found  you  wanting.  He  will 
soon  give  you  better  work  to  do— work  more  in  keeping 
with  your  character  and  ability." 

This  prediction  was  fulfilled  before  Dennis  received  the 
letter  containing  it,  and  it  happened  on  this  wise. 

Early  on  Monday  morning  Mr.  Berder  appeared  and  at- 
tempted the  hopeless  task  of  grouping  the  articles  on  his 


PROMOTED  111 

table  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Ludolph's  orders.  After  an 
hour's  work  he  exclaimed  in  despair,  "I  cannot  do  him  to 
save  my  life." 

Dennis  at  a  distance,  with  a  half-amused,  half-pitying 
face,  had  watched  Mr.  Berder's  wonderful  combinations, 
and  when  Rip  Van  Winkle  was  placed  between  two  to- 
gated  Roman  senators,  and  Ichabod  Crane  arranged  as  if 
making  love  to  a  Greek  goddess,  he  came  near  laughing 
outright.  But  when  Mr.  Berder  spoke  he  approached  and 
said,  kindly  and  respectfully,  "Will  you  let  me  try  to  help 
you?" 

44 Yes,"  said  Mr.  Berder;  *4you  cannot  make  dings 
vorse." 

Acting  upon  this  ungracious  permission,  Dennis  folded 
his  arms  and  studied  the  table  for  five  minutes. 

4 'Come,"  said  Mr.  Berder,  " standing  dere  and  looking 
so  vise  as  an  owl  von't  help  matters.  Mr.  Ludolph  vill  be 
here  soon." 

4 'I  am  not  losing  time,"  said  Dennis;  and  a  moment 
proved  he  was  not,  for,  having  formed  a  general  plan  of 
arrangement,  he  went  rapidly  to  work,  and  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  could  challenge  Mr.  Ludolph  or  any  other  critic 
to  find  serious  fault. 

4 'There!  I  could  do  better  if  I  had  more  time,  but  I 
must  go  to  my  sweeping  and  dusting,  or  Mr.  Schwartz 
will  be  down  on  me,  and  he  is  pretty  heavy,  you  know. 
I  never  saw  such  a  man — he  can  see  a  grain  of  dust  half 
across  the  store." 

Mr.  Berder  had  looked  at  Dennis's  quick,  skilful  mo* 
tions  in  blank  amazement,  and  then  broke  out  into  un- 
wonted panegyric  for  him:  "I  say,  Vleet,  dot's  capital  I 
Where  you  learn  him?"  Then  in  a  paroxysm  of  gener- 
osity he  added,  "Dere'a  a  quarter  for  you." 

44 No,  I  thank  you,"  said  Dennis;  "I  did  not  do  it  for 
money." 

44 Vat  did  der  fool  do  it  for,  den,  I'd  like  to  know?" 
muttered  Mr.  Berder,  the  philosophy  of  his  life  resuming 


112  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

its  former  control.  "Saved  a  quarter,  anyhow,  and,  vat's 
more,  know  vere  to  go  next  dime  der  old  man  comes  down 
on  me. ' ' 

A  little  after  nine  Mr.  and  Miss  Ludolph  came  in,  and 
paused  at  the  table.  Dennis,  unnoticed,  stood  behind  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  and  Joan  of  Arc,  placed  lovingly  together 
on  another  counter,  face  to  face,  as  if  in  mutual  admiration, 
and  from  his  hiding-place  watched  the  scene  before  him  with 
intense  anxiety.  One  thought  only  filled  his  mind— Would 
they  approve  or  condemn  his  taste  ?  for  he  had  arranged  the 
table  on  a  plan  of  his  own.  His  heart  gave  a  glad  bound 
when  Mr.  Ludolph  said:  "Why,  Berder,  this  is  excellent. 
To  be  sure  you  have  taken  your  own  method,  and  followed 
your  own  taste,  but  I  find  no  fault  with  that,  when  you  pro- 
duce an  effect  like  this.'1 

"I  declare,  father,"  chimed  in  Miss  Ludolph,  "this 
table  pleases  me  greatly.  It  is  a  little  oasis  in  this  great 
desert  of  a  store.  Mr.  Berder,  I  compliment  you  on  your 
taste.  You  shall  help  me  rearrange,  artistically,  every- 
thing in  the  building." 

Dennis,  in  his  agitation,  came  near  precipitating  Benja- 
min Franklin  into  the  arms  of  Joan  of  Arc,  a  position 
scarcely  in  keeping  with  either  character. 

"Yes,  Christine,  that  is  true,"  continued  Mr.  Ludolph, 
11  Mr.  Berder  will  be  just  the  one  to  help  you,  and  I  am 
glad  you  have  found  one  competent.  By  all  the  furies! 
just  compare  this  table  with  the  one  next  to  it,  where  the 
Past,  Present,  and  Future  have  not  the  slightest  regard  for 
each  other,  and  satyrs  and  angels,  philosophers  and  ban- 
dits, are  mixed  up  about  as  closely  as  in  real  life.  Here, 
Berder,  try  you  hand  at  this  counter  also;  and  you,  young 
men,  gather  round  and  see  the  difference  when  art,  instead 
of  mathematics,  rules  the  world  of  art.  If  this  thing  goes 
on,  we  shall  have  the  golden  age  back  again  in  the  store. ' ' 

Mr.  Berder,  though  somewhat  confused,  had  received  all 
his  compliments  with  bows  and  smiles  But  Dennis,  after 
his  thrill  of  joy  at  having  pleased  Mr.  and  Miss  Ludolph 's 


PROMOTED  113 

fastidious  taste,  felt  himself  reddening  with  honest  indigna- 
tion that  Mr.  Berder  should  carry  off  all  his  laurels  before 
his  face.  But  he  resolved  to  say  nothing,  knowing  that 
time  would  right  him.  When  Mr.  Ludolph  asked  the 
young  men  to  step  forward,  he  came  with  the  others. 

4 'That's  right,  Fleet,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  again,  "you 
can  get  a  useful  hint,  too,  like  enough." 

44 Nonsense,  father,"  said  Miss  Ludolph,  in  a  tone  not  so 
low  but  that  Dennis  heard  it;  "why  spoil  a  good  sweeper 
and  duster  by  putting  uppish  notions  in  his  head?  He 
keeps  the  store  cleaner  than  any  man  you  ever  had,  and  I 
don't  soil  my  dresses  as  I  used  to." 

Dennis's  color  heightened  a  little,  and  his  lips  closed 
more  firmly,  but  he  gave  no  other  sign  that  he  heard  this 
limitation  of  his  hope  and  ambition.  But  it  cut  him  rather 
deep.  The  best  he  could  ever  do,  then,  in  her  view,  was  to 
keep  her  dresses  from  being  soiled. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Berder  had  shown  great  embarrass- 
ment at  Mr.  Ludolph's  unexpected  request.  After  a  few 
moments  of  awkward  hesitation  he  stammered  out  that  he 
could  do  it  better  alone.  The  suspicion  of  keen  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph was  at  once  aroused  and  he  persisted:  "Oh,  come, 
Mr.  Berder,  we  don't  expect  you  to  do  your  best  in  a  mo- 
ment, but  a  person  of  your  taste  can  certainly  make  a  great 
change  for  the  better  in  the  table  before  you." 

In  sheer  desperation  the  entrapped  youth  attempted  the 
task,  but  he  had  not  bungled  five  minutes  before  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph said,  sharply,  "Mr.  Berder,  you  did  not  arrange  this 
table." 

"Veil,"  whined  Mr.  Berder,  "I  didn't  say  dot  I  did." 

41  You  caused  me  to  believe  that  you  did,"  said  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph, his  brow  growing  dark.  "Now,  one  question,  and 
I  wish  the  truth:  Who  did  arrange  this  table?" 

"  Vleet,  dere,  helped  me,"  gasped  Mr.  Berder. 

"Helped  you?  Mr.  Fleet,  step  forward,  if  you  please, 
for  I  intend  to  have  the  truth  of  this  matter.  How  much 
help  did  Mr.  Berder  give  you  in  arranging  this  table?" 


114  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

44 None,  sir,"  said  Dennis,  looking  straight  into  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph's  eyes. 

All  looked  with  great  surprise  at  Dennis,  especially 
Miss  Ludolph,  who  regarded  him  most  curiously.  "How 
different  he  appears  from  Pat  Murphy!"  she  again 
thought. 

"Some  one  has  told  a  lie,  now,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph, 
sternly.  4tMr.  Fleet,  1  shall  put  you  to  the  same  test  that 
Berder  failed  in.  Arrange  that  counter  sufficiently  well  to 
prove  that  it  was  your  hands  that  arranged  this. ' ' 

Dennis  stepped  forward  promptly,  but  with  a  pale  face 
and  compressed  lips.  Feeling  that  both  honor  and  success 
were  at  stake,  he  grouped  and  combined  everything  as  be- 
fore, as  far  as  the  articles  would  permit,  having  no  time  to 
originate  a  new  plan.  As  he  worked,  the  clerks  gazed  in 
open  astonishment,  Mr.  Ludolph  looked  significantly  at  his 
daughter,  while  she  watched  him  with  something  of  the  same 
wonder  which  we  have  when  one  of  the  lower  animals  shows 
human  sagacity  and  skill. 

Mr.  Ludolph  was  Napoleonic  in  other  respects  than  his 
ambition  and  selfishness.  He  was  shrewd  enough  to  4' pro- 
mote on  the  field  for  meritorious  services."  Therefore,  as 
Dennis's  task  approached  completion,  he  said:  44That  will 
do,  Mr.  Fleet,  you  can  finish  the  work  at  your  leisure.  Mr. 
Berder,  you  are  discharged  from  this  day  for  deception.  I 
would  have  borne  with  your  incompetency  if  you  had  been 
truthful.  But  I  never  trust  any  one  who  has  deceived  me 
once,"  he  said,  so  sternly  that  even  Christine's  cheek  paled. 
4 'Mr.  Schwartz  will  settle  with  you,  and  let  me  never  see  or 
hear  from  you  again.  Mr.  Fleet,  I  promote  you  to  Mr.  Ber- 
der's  counter  and  pay." 

Thus  this  man  of  the  world,  without  a  thought  of  pity, 
mercy,  or  kindly  feeling  in  either  case,  gave  one  of  his 
clerks  a  new  impetus  toward  the  devil,  and  another  an  im- 
portant lift  toward  better  things,  and  then  went  his  way, 
congratulating  himself  that  all  things  had  worked  together 
for  his  good,  that  morning,  though  where  he  would  find  an- 


PROMOTED  115 

other  Dennis  Fleet  to  fill  Pat's  place,  again  vacant,  he  did 
not  know. 

But  Miss  Ludolph  looked  at  Dennis  somewhat  kindly, 
and  with  a  little  honest  admiration  in  her  face.  He  was 
very  different  from  what  she  had  as  a  matter  of  course 
supposed  him  to  be,  and  liad  just  done  in  a  quiet,  manly 
way  a  thing  most  pleasing  to  her,  so  she  said  with  a  smile 
that  seemed  perfectly  heavenly  to  him,  "You  are  above 
blacking  boots,  sir." 


116  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  XYI 

JUST  IN  TIME 

AT  the  close  of  the  day  on  which  Dennis  received  his 
promotion,  and  his  horizon  was  widened  so  unex- 
pectedly, Mr.  Ludolph,  in  passing  out,  noticed  him 
engaged  as  usual  on  one  of  Pat  Murphy's  old  tasks.  He 
stopped  and  spoke  kindly,  "Well,  Fleet,  where  am  I  going 
to  find  a  man  to  fill  your  place  made  vacant  to-day?" 

"Would  you  be  willing  to  listen  to  a  suggestion  from 
me?" 

"Certainly." 

"If  a  young  boy  was  employed  to  black  boots,  run  er- 
rands, and  attend  to  minor  matters,  I  think  that  by  indus- 
try 1  might  for  a  while  fill  both  positions.  In  a  short  time 
the  furnace  will  require  no  further  attention.  I  am  a  very 
early  riser,  and  think  that  by  a  little  good  management  I 
can  keep  the  store  in  order  and  still  be  on  hand  to  attend 
to  my  counter  when  customers  are  about." 

Mr.  Ludolph  was  much  pleased  with  the  proposition, 
and  said,  promptly,  "You  may  try  it,  Fleet,  and  I  will 
pay  you  accordingly.  Do  you  know  of  a  boy  who  will 
answer?" 

"I  think  I  do,  sir.  There  is  a  German  lad  in  my  mis- 
sion class  who  has  interested  me  very  much.  His  father  is 
really  a  superior  artist,  but  is  throwing  himself  away  with 
drink,  and  his  mother  is  engaged  in  an  almost  hopeless 
effort  to  support  the  family.  They  have  seen  much  better 
days,  and  their  life  seems  very  hard  in  contrast  with  the 
past." 


JUST  IN    TIME  117 

"Can  we  trust  such  a  boy?  Their  very  necessities  may 
lead  to  theft." 

"They  are  not  of  the  thieving  sort,  sir.  I  am  satisfied 
that  they  would  all  starve  rather  than  touch  a  penny  that 
did  not  belong  to  them. ' ' 

"Very  well,  then,  let  him  come  and  see  me;  but  I  will 
hold  you  responsible  for  him." 

Mr.  Ludolph,  being  in  a  good  humor,  was  disposed  to 
banter  Dennis,  so  he  added:  "Do  you  find  time  to  be  a  mis- 
sionary, also?  Are  you  not  in  danger  of  becoming  a  'Jack 
at  all  trades'  ?" 

"I  am  not  entitled  to  the  first  character,  and  hope  to 
shun  the  latter.  I  merely  teach  a  dozen  boys  in  a  mission 
school  on  Sundays. ' ' 

"When  you  ought  to  be  taking  a  good  long  nap,  or  a  row 
on  the  lake  for  fresh  air  and  recreation." 

"I  should  be  dishonest  if  I  spent  my  Sabbaths  in  that 
way. ' ' 

"How  so?" 

"I  should  give  the  lie  to  my  profession  and  belief.  I 
must  drop  the  name  of  Christian  when  I  live  for  my- 
self." 

"And  if  you  should  drop  it,  do  you  think  you  would 
be  much  the  loser  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Dennis,  with  quiet  emphasis. 

"You  are  expecting  great  reward,  in  some  sort  of  Para- 
dise, for  your  mission  work,  etc.  ?" 

"Nothing  done  for  God  is  forgotten  or  unrewarded." 

"Believing  that,  it  seems  to  me  that  you  are  looking  after 
self-interest  as  much  as  the  rest  of  us,"  said  his  employer, 
with  a  shrewd  smile. 

Looking  straight  into  Mr.  Ludolph's  eyes,  Dennis  said, 
earnestly:  "Without  boasting,  1  think  that  I  can  say  that 
I  try  to  serve  you  faithfully.  If  you  could  see  my  heart,  I 
am  sure  you  would  find  that  gratitude  for  your  kindness 
is  a  part  of  my  motive,  as  well  as  my  wages.  In  the  same 
manner,  while  1  do  not  lose  sight  of  the  rich  rewards  God 


118  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

promises  and  daily  gives  for  the  little  I  can  do  for  Him,  I 
am  certain  that  I  can  do  much  out  of  simple  gratitude  and 
love,  and  ask  no  reward. ' ' 

"Ignorance  is  certainly  bliss  in  your  case,  young  man. 
Stick  to  your  harmless  superstition  as  long  as  you  can." 

And  he  walked  away,  muttering:  "Delusion,  delusion! 
I  have  not  said  a  word  or  done  a  thing  for  him  in  which 
I  had  not  in  view  my  interests  only,  and  yet  the  poor  young 
fool  sees  in  the  main  disinterested  kindness.  Little  trouble 
have  the  wily  priests  in  imposing  on  such  victims,  and  so 
they  get  their  hard-earned  wages  and  set  them  propagating 
the  delusion  in  mission  schools,  when  mind  and  body  need 
change  and  rest.  Suppose  there  is  a  Supreme  Being  in  the 
universe,  what  a  monstrous  absurdity  to  imagine  that  He 
would  trouble  Himself  to  reward  this  Yankee  youth  for 
teaching  a  dozen  ragamuffins  in  a  tenement- house  mission 
school!" 

Thus  Mr.  Ludolph's  soliloquy  proved  that  his  own  pride 
and  selfishness  had  destroyed  the  faculty  by  which  he  could 
see  God.  The  blind  are  not  more  oblivious  to  color  than 
he  was  to  those  divine  qualities  which  are  designed  to  win 
and  enchain  the  heart.  A  man  may  sadly  mutilate  his  own 
soul. 

At  a  dainty  dinner-table  Mr.  Ludolph  and  his  daughter 
discussed  the  events  of  the  day. 

"I  am  glad,"  said  the  latter,  "that  he  is  willing  to  fill 
Pat's  place,  for  he  keeps  everything  so  clean.  A  dusty, 
slovenly  store  is  my  abomination.  Then  it  shows  that  he 
has  no  silly,  uppish  notions  so  common  to  these  Ameri- 
cans." (Though  born  here,  Miss  Ludolph  never  thought 
herself  other  than  a  German  lady  of  rank.)  "But  I  do  not 
wish  to  see  him  blacking  boots  again.  Yet  he  is  an  odd 
genius.  How  comical  he  looked  bowing  to  me  with  one  of 
Mr.  Schwartz's  big  boots  describing  a  graceful  curve  on  a 
level  with  his  head.  Let  old  Schwartz  black  his  own  boots. 
He  ought  to  as  a  punishment  for  carrying  around  so  much 
leather.  This  Fleet  must  have  seen  better  days.  He  is  like 


JUST  IN    TIME  119 

all  Yankees,  however,  sharp  after  the  dollar,  though  he 
seems  more  willing  to  work  for  it  than  most  of  them.11 

'Til  wager  you  a  pair  of  gloves,"  said  her  father,  "that 
they  get  a  good  percentage  of  it  down  at  the  mission  school. 
He  is  just  the  subject  for  a  cunning  priest,  because  he  sin- 
cerely believes  in  their  foolery.  He  belongs  to  a  tribe  now 
nearly  extinct,  I  imagine — the  martyrs,  who  in  old-fashioned 
times  died  for  all  sorts  of  delusions. ' ' 

"How  time  mellows  and  changes  everything!  There  is 
something  heroic  and  worthy  of  art  in  the  ancient  martyr- 
doms, while  nothing  is  more  repulsive  than  modern  fanati- 
cism. It  is  a  shame,  though,  that  this  young  man,  with 
mother  and  sisters  to  support,  should  be  robbed  of  his  hard 
earnings  as  was  Pat  Murphy  by  his  priest,  and  I  will  try  to 
open  his  eyes  some  day. ' ' 

"I  predict  for  you  no  success." 

"Why  so? — he  seems  intelligent." 

"I  have  not  studied  character  all  my  life  in  vain.  He 
would  regard  you,  my  fair  daughter,  as  the  devil  in  the 
form  of  an  angel  of  light  tempting  him." 

"He  had  better  not  be  so  plain-spoken  as  yourself." 

"Oh,  no  need  of  Fleet's  speaking;  his  face  is  like  the 
page  of  an  open  book. ' ' 

"Indeed!  a  face  like  a  sign-board  is  a  most  unfortunate 
one,  I  should  think. ' ' 

"Most  fortunate  for  us.  I  wish  I  could  read  every  one 
as  I  can  Fleet." 

"You  trust  no  one,  I  believe,  father." 

"I  believe  what  I  see  and  know." 

"I  wish  I  had  your  power  of  seeing  and  knowing.  But 
"how  did  he  get  his  artistic  knowledge  and  taste  ?" 

"That  I  have  not  inquired  into  fully,  as  yet.  I  think  he 
has  an  unusual  native  aptness  for  these  things,  and  gains 
hints  and  instruction  where  others  would  see  nothing.  And, 
as  you  say,  in  the  better  days  past  he  may  have  had  some 
advantages. ' ' 

"Well,"  said  she,  caressing  the  greyhound  beside  her, 


120  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

" if  .Wolf  here  should  go  to  the  piano  and  execute  an  opera, 
I  should  not  be  more  astonished  than  I  was   this   morn- 


ing." 


And  then  their  conversation  glided  off  on  other  topics. 

After  dessert,  Mr.  Ludolph  lighted  a  cigar  and  sat  down 
to  the  evening  paper,  while  his  daughter  evoked  from  the 
piano  true  after-dinner  music — light,  brilliant,  mirth-inspir- 
ing. Then  both  adjourned  to  their  private  billiard- room. 

The  scene  of  our  story  now  changes  from  Mr.  Ludolph's 
luxurious  apartments  in  one  of  the  most  fashionable  hotels 
in  the  city  to  a  forlorn  attic  in  De  Koven  Street.  It  is  the 
scene  of  a  struggle  as  desperate,  as  heroic,  against  as  tre- 
mendous odds,  as  was  ever  carried  on  in  the  days  of  the 
Crusades.  But  as  the  foremost  figure  in  this  long,  weary 
conflict  was  not  an  armed  and  panoplied  knight,  but  merely 
a  poor  German  woman,  only  God  and  the  angels  took  much 
interest  in  it.  Still  upon  this  evening  she  was  almost  van- 
quished. She  seemed  to  have  but  one  vantage-point  left 
on  earth.  For  a  wonder,  her  husband  was  comparatively 
sober,  and  sat  brooding  with  his  head  in  his  hands  over  the 
stove  where  a  fire  was  slowly  dying  out.  The  last  coal  they 
had  was  fast  turning  to  ashes.  From  a  cradle  came  a  low, 
wailing  cry.  It  was  that  of  hunger.  On  an  old  chest  in  a 
dusky  corner  sat  a  boy  about  thirteen.  Though  all  else  was 
in  shadow,  his  large  eyes  shone  with  unnatural  brightness, 
and  followed  his  mother's  feeble  efforts  at  the  washtub  with 
that  expression  of  premature  sadness  so  pathetic  in  child- 
hood. Under  a  rickety  deal  table  three  other  and  smaller 
children  were  devouring  some  crusts  of  bread  in  a  ravenous 
way,  like  half-famished  young  animals.  In  a  few  moments 
they  came  out  and  clamored  for  more,  addressing — not  their 
father;  no  intuitive  turning  to  him  for  support — but  the 
poor,  over-tasked  mother.  The  boy  came  out  of  his  corner 
and  tried  to  draw  them  off  and  interest  them  in  something 
else,  but  they  were  like  a  pack  of  hungry  little  wolves.  The 
boy's  face  was  almost  as  sharp  and  famine- pinched  as  his 


JUST  IN   TIME  121 

mother's,  but  he  seemed  to  have  lost  all  thought  of  himself 
in  his  sorrowful  regard  for  her.  As  the  younger  children 
clamored  and  dragged  upon  her,  the  point  of  endurance  was 
passed,  and  the  poor  woman  gave  way.  With  a  despairing 
cry  she  sank  upon  a  chair  and  covered  her  face  with  her 
apron. 

"Oh,  mine  Gott,  Oh,  mine  Gott,"  she  cried,  "I  can  do  not 
von  more  stroke  if  ve  all  die." 

In  a  moment  her  son  had  his  arms  around  her  neck,  and 
said:  "Oh,  moder,  don't  cry,  don't  cry.  Mr.  Fleet  said  God 
would  surely  help  us  in  time  of  trouble  if  we  would  only 
ask  Him." 

"I've  ask  Him,  and  ask  Him,  but  der  help  don't  come. 
I  can  do  no  more;"  and  a  tempest  of  despairing  sobs  shook 
her  gaunt  frame. 

The  boy  seemed  to  have  got  past  tears,  and  just  fixed  his 
large  eyes,  full  of  reproach  and  sorrow,  on  his  father. 

The  man  rose  and  turned  his  bloodshot  eyes  slowly 
around  the  room.  The  whole  scene,  with  its  meaning, 
seemed  to  dawn  upon  him.  His  mind  was  not  so  clouded 
by  the  fumes  of  liquor  but  that  he  could  comprehend  the 
supreme  misery  of  the  situation.  He  heard  his  children 
crying — fairly  howling  for  bread.  He  saw  the  wife  he 
had  sworn  to  love  and  honor,  where  she  had  fallen  in  her 
unequal  conflict,  brave,  but  overpowered.  He  remembered 
the  wealthy  burgher's  blooming,  courted  daughter,  whom 
he  had  lured  away  to  marry  him,  a  poor  artist.  He  re- 
membered how,  in  spite  of  her  father's  commands  and  her 
mother's  tears,  she  had  left  home  and  luxury  to  follow  him 
throughout  the  world  because  of  her  faith  in  him  and  love 
for  him — how  under  her  inspiration  he  had  risen  to  great 
promise  as  an  artist,  till  fame  and  fortune  became  almost 
a  certainty,  and  then,  under  the  debasing  influence  of  his 
terrible  appetite,  he  had  dragged  her  down  and  down,  till 
now  he  saw  her — prematurely  old,  broken  in  health,  broken 
in  heart — fall  helplessly  before  the  hard  drudgery  that  she 
no  longer  had  strength  to  perform.  With  a  sickening  hor- 

ROE— Y— 6 


122  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

TOT  he  remembered  that  he  had  taken  even  the  pittance  she 
had  wrung  from  that  washtub,  to  feed,  not  his  children,  but 
his  accursed  appetite  for  drink.  Even  his  purple,  bloated 
face  grew  livid  as  all  the  past  rushed  upon  him,  and  despair 
laid  an  icy  hand  upon  his  heart. 

A  desperate  purpose  formed  itself  within  his  mind. 

Turning  to  the  wall  where  hung  a  noble  picture,  a  lovely 
landscape,  whose  rich  coloring,  warm  sunlight,  and  rural 
peace  formed  a  sharp,  strange  contrast  with  the  meagre, 
famine-stricken  apartment,  he  was  about  to  take  it  down 
from  its  fastening  when  his  hand  was  arrested  by  a  word 
—"Father!" 

He  turned,  and  saw  his  son  looking  at  him  with  his  great 
eyes  full  of  horror  and  alarm,  as  if  he  were  committing 
a  murder. 

"I  tell  you  I  must,  and  I  vill,"  said  he,  savagely. 

His  wife  looked  up,  sprang  to  his  side,  and  with  her 
hands  upon  his  arm,  said,  "No,  Berthold,  you  must  not, 
you  shall  not  sell  dot  picture. ' ' 

He  silently  pointed  to  his  children  crying  for  bread. 

* '  Take  der  dress  off  my  back  to  sell,  but  not  dot  picture. 
Ve  may  as  veil  die  before  him  goes,  for  ve  certainly  vill 
after.  Dot  is  de  only  ding  left  of  der  happy  past.  Dot,  in 
Gott's  hands,  is  my  only  hope  for  der  future.  Dot  picture 
dells  you  vat  you  vas,  vat  you  might  be  still  if  you  vould 
only  let  drink  alone.  Many's  der  veary  day,  many's  der 
long  night,  I've  prayed  dot  dot  picture  vould  vin  you  back 
to  your  former  self,  ven  tears  and  sufferings  vere  in  vain. 
Leave  him,  and  some  day  he  vill  tell  you  so  plain  vat  you 
are,  and  vot  you  can  be,  dot  you  break  der  horrid  spell  dot 
chains  you,  and  your  artist-soul  come  again.  Leave  him, 
our  only  hope,  and  sole  bar  against  despair  and  death.  I 
vill  go  and  beg  a  dousand  times  before  dot  picture's  sold; 
for  if  he  goes,  your  artist- soul  no  more  come  back,  and 
you're  lost,  and  ve  all  are  lost." 

The  man  hesitated.  His  good  angel  was  pleading  with 
him,,  but  in  vain. 


JUST  IN    TIME  123 

Stamping  his  foot  with  rage  and  despair,  he  shouted, 
hoarsely,  "It  is  top  late  I  am  lost  now." 

And  he  tore  the  picture  from  its  fastening.  His  wife 
sank  back  against  the  wall  with  a  groan  as  if  her  very 
soul  were  departing. 

But  before  his  rash  steps  could  leave  the  desolation  he 
had  made,  he  was  confronted  by  the  tall  form  of  Dennis 
Fleet. 

The  man  stared  at  him  for  a  moment  as  if  he  had  been 
an  apparition,  and  then  said,  in  a  hard  tone,  "Let  me  pass!" 

Dennis  had  knocked  for  some  time,  but  such  was  the 
excitement  within  no  one  had  regarded  the  sound.  He  had, 
therefore,  heard  the  wife's  appeal  and  its  answer,  and  from 
what  he  knew  of  the  family  from  his  mission  scholar,  the 
boy  Ernst,  comprehended  the  situation  in  the  main.  When, 
therefore,  matters  reached  the  crisis,  he  opened  the  door  and 
met  the  infatuated  man  as  he  was  about  to  throw  away  the 
last  relic  of  his  former  self  and  happier  life.  With  great 
tact  he  appeared  as  if  he  knew  nothing,  and  quietly  taking 
a  chair  he  sat  down  with  his  back  against  the  door,  thus 
barring  egress.  In  a  pleasant,  affable  tone,  he  said:  "Mr. 
Bruder,  I  came  to  see  you  on  a  little  business  to-night.  As 
I  was  in  something  of  a  hurry,  and  no  one  appeared  to  hear 
my  knock,  I  took  the  liberty  of  coming  in." 

The  hungry  little  ones  looked  at  him  with  their  round 
eyes  of  childish  curiosity,  and  for  a  time  ceased  their 
clamors.  The  wife  sank  into  a  chair  and  bowed  her  head 
in  her  hands  with  the  indifference  of  despair.  Hope  had 
gone.  A  gleam  of  joy  lighted  up  Ernst's  pale  face  at  the 
sight  of  his  beloved  teacher,  and  he  stepped  over  to  his 
mother  and  commenced  whispering  in  her  ear,  but  she 
heeded  him  not.  The  man's  face  wore  a  sullen,  dangerous, 
yet  irresolute  expression.  It  was  evident  that  he  half  be- 
lieved that  Dennis  was  knowingly  trying  to  thwart  him, 
and.  such  was  his  mad  frenzy  that  he  was  ready  for  any 
desperate  deed. 


124:  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTEE  XVII 

RESCUED 

IN  A  TONE  of  suppressed  excitement,  which  he  tried 
in  vain  to  render  steady,  Mr.  Bruder  said:  "You  haf 
der  advantage  of  me,  sir.  I  know  not  your  name.  Vat 
is  more,  I  am  not  fit  for  bissiness  dis  night.  Indeed,  I  haf 
important  bissiness  elsewhere.  You  must  excuse  me,"  he 
added,  sternly,  advancing  toward  the  door  with  the  picture. 

"Pardon  me,  Mr.  Bruder,"  said  Dennis,  politely.  "I 
throw  myself  entirely  on  your  courtesy,  and  must  ask  as 
a  very  great  favor  that  you  will  not  take  away  that  picture 
till  I  see  it,  for  that,  in  part,  is  what  I  came  for.  I  am  in 
the  picture  trade  myself,  and  think  I  am  a  tolerably  fair 
judge  of  paintings.  I  heard  accidentally  you  had  a  fine 
one,  and  from  the  glimpse  I  catch  of  it,  I  think  I  have  not 
been  misinformed.  If  it  is  for  sale,  perhaps  I  can  do  as  well 
by  you  as  any  one  else.  I  am  employed  in  Mr.  Ludolph's 
great  store,  the 'Art  Building.'  You  probably  know  all 
about  the  place." 

"Yes,  I  know  him,"  said  the  man,  calming  down  some- 
what. 

"And  now,  sir,"  said  Dennis,  with  a  gentle,  winning 
courtesy  impossible  to  resist,  "will  you  do  me  the  favor 
of  showing  me  your  picture?" 

He  treated  poor  Bruder  as  a  gentleman,  and  he,  having 
really  been  one,  was  naturally  inclined  to  return  like  cour- 
tesy. Therefore  he  said,  "Oh,  certainly,  since  you  vish  to 
see  him.  I  suppose  I  might  as  veil  sell  him  to  you  as  any 
von  else." 


RESCUED  125 

Mr.  Binder  was  a  man  of  violent  impulses,  and  his  mad 
excitement  was  fast  leaving  him  under  Dennis's  cool, 
business-like  manner.  To  gain  time  was  now  the  great 
desideratum. 

The  picture  having  been  replaced  upon  the  wall,  Mr. 
Bruder  held  the  lamp  so  as  to  throw  upon  it  as  good  a  light 
as  possible. 

Dennis  folded  his  arms  calmly  and  commenced  its  study. 
He  had  meant  to  act  a  part — to  pretend  deep  interest  and 
desire  for  long  critical  study — that  he  might  secure  more 
time,  but  in  a  few  moments  he  became  honestly  absorbed  in 
the  beautiful  and  exquisitely  finished  landscape. 

The  poor  man  watched  him  keenly.  Old  associations 
and  feelings,  seemingly  long  dead,  awoke.  As  he  saw 
Dennis  manifest  every  mark  of  true  and  growing  appre- 
ciation, he  perceived  that  his  picture  was  being  studied  by 
a  discriminating  person.  Then  his  artist- nature  began  to 
quicken  into  life  again.  His  eyes  glowed,  and  glanced  rap- 
idly from  Dennis  to  the  painting,  back  and  forth,  following 
up  the  judgment  on  each  and  every  part  which  he  saw 
written  in  the  young  man's  face.  As  he  watched,  some- 
thing like  hope  and  exultation  began  to  light  up  his  sullen, 
heavy  features;  thought  and  feeling  began  to  spiritualize 
and  ennoble  what  but  a  little  before  had  been  so  coarse  and 
repulsive. 

Ernst  was  looking  at  Dennis  in  rapt  awe,  as  at  a  messen- 
ger from  heaven. 

The  poor  wife,  who  had  listened  in  a  dull  apathy  to  the 
conversation,  raised  her  head  in  sudden  and  intelligent 
interest  when  the  picture  was  replaced  upon  the  wall.  It 
seemed  that  her  every  hope  was  bound  up  in  that.  As  she 
saw  Dennis  and  her  husband  standing  before  it — as  she  saw 
the  face  of  the  latter  begin  to  assume  something  of  its  former 
look — her  whole  soul  came  into  her  great  blue  eyes,  and  she 
watched  as  if  more  than  life  were  at  stake. 

If  that  meagre  apartment,  with  its  inmates,  their  con- 
trasts of  character  their  expressive  faces,  could  have  then 


126  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

been  portrayed,  it  would  have  made  a  picture  with  power 
to  move  the  coldest  heart. 

At  last  Dennis  drew  a  long  breath,  turned  and  gave  his 
hand  to  the  man,  saying  with  hearty  emphasis,  "Mr.  Bruder, 
you  are  an  artist." 

The  poor  man  lifted  his  face  to  heaven  with  the  same  ex- 
pression of  joy  and  gratitude  that  had  rested  on  it  long,  long 
years  ago,  when  his  first  real  work  of  merit  had  received 
similar  praise. 

His  wife  saw  and  remembered  it,  and,  with  an  ecstatic 
cry  that  thrilled  Dennis's  soul,  exclaimed,  "Ah!  mine  Gott 
be  praised !  mine  Gott  be  praised !  his  artist- soul  come  back !" 
and  she  threw  herself  on  her  husband's  neck,  and  clung  to 
him  with  hysteric  energy.  The  man  melted  completely,  and 
bowed  his  head  upon  his  wife's  shoulder,  while  his  whole 
frame  shook  with  sobs. 

"I  will  be  back  in  half  an  hour,"  said  Dennis,  hastily, 
brushing  tears  from  his  own  eyes.  "Come  with  me,  Ernst." 

At  the  foot  of  the  stairs  Dennis  said:  "Take  this  money, 
Ernst,  and  buy  bread,  butter,  tea,  milk,  and  coal,  also  a 
nice  large  steak,  for  I  am  going  to  take  supper  with  you 
to-night.  I  will  stay  here  and  watch,  for  your  father  must 
not  be  permitted  to  go  out.'7 

"Oh,  Gott  bless  you!  Gott  bless  you!"  said  the  boy, 
and  he  hurried  away  to  do  his  errand. 

Dennis  walked  up  and  down  before  the  door  on  guard. 
Ernst  soon  returned,  and  carried  the  welcome  food  upstairs. 
After  a  little  time  he  stole  down  again  and  said:  "Father's 
quiet  and  queer  like.  Mother  has  given  the  children  a  good 
supper  and  put  them  to  bed.  Better  come  now." 

"In  a  few  moments  more;  you  go  back  and  sit  down 
quietly  and  say  nothing." 

After  a  little  Dennis  went  up  and  knocked  at  the  door. 
Mrs.  Bruder  opened  it,  and  held  out  her  hand.  Her  quiver- 
ing lips  refused  to  speak,  but  her  eyes  filled  with  grateful 
tears.  The  children  were  tucked  away  in  bed.  Ernst 
crouched  by  the  fire,  eating  some  bread  and  butter,  for 


RESCUED  127 

he  was  cold  and  half -famished.  Mr.  Bruder  sat  in  the 
dusky  corner  with  his  head  in  his  hands,  the  picture  of  de- 
jection. But,  as  Dennis  entered,  he  rose  and  came  forward. 
He  tried  to  speak,  but  for  a  moment  could  not.  At  last  he 
said,  hoarsely:  "Mr.  Vleet,  you  haf  done  me  and  mine  a 
great  kindness.  No  matter  vat  the  result  is,  I  dank  you  as 
I  never  danked  any  living  being.  I  believe  Gk>tt  sent  you, 
but  I  fear  too  late.  You  see  before  you  a  miserable  wreck. 
For  months  and  years  I  haf  been  a  brute,  a  devil.  Dot  pic- 
ture dere  show  you  vat  I  vas,  vat  I  might  haf  been.  You 
see  vat  I  am,"  he  added,  with  an  expression  of  intense 
loathing.  "I  see  him  all  to-night  as  if  written  in  letters 
of  fire,  and  if  dere  is  a  vorse  hell  dan  der  von  I  feel  vithin 
my  soul,  Gott  only  knows  how  I  am  to  endure  him." 

"Mr.  Bruder,  you  say  I  have  done  you  a  favor." 

"Gott  knows  you  haf." 

"I  want  you  to  do  me  one  in  return.  I  want  you  to  let 
me  be  your  friend,"  said  Dennis,  holding  out  his  hand. 

The  man  trembled,  hesitated;  at  last  he  said,  brokenly, 
"I  am  not  fit — to  touch — your  hand." 

"Mr.  Bruder,"  said  Dennis,  gently,  "I  hope  that  I  am 
a  Christian." 

"Still  more,  den,  I  am  unfit  efer  to  be  in  your  presence." 

"What!  am  I  greater  than  my  Master?  Did  not  Christ 
take  the  hand  of  every  poor,  struggling  man  on  earth  that 
would  let  Him  ?  Come,  Mr.  Bruder,  if  you  have  any  real 
gratitude  for  the  little  I  have  done  to  show  my  interest  in 
you  and  yours,  grant  me  my  request. ' ' 

"Do  you  really  mean  him  ?"  he  gasped.  "Do  you  really 
vant  to  be  drunken  old  Berthold  Bruder's  friend?" 

"God  is  my  witness,  I  do,"  said  Dennis,  still  holding 
out  his  hand. 

The  poor  fellow  drew  a  few  short,  heavy  breaths,  and 
then  grasped  Dennis's  hand,  and  clung  to  it  with  the  force 
of  a  drowning  man. 

"Oh!"  said  he,  after  a  few  moments  of  deep  emotion, 
J'l  feel  dot  I  haf  a  plank  under  me  now." 


128  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

"God  grant  that  you  may  soon  feel  that  you  are  on  the 
Kock  Christ  Jesus, ' '  said  Dennis,  solemnly. 

Fearing  the  reaction  of  too  great  and  prolonged  emotion, 
Dennis  now  did  everything  in  his  power  to  calm  and  quiet 
his  new-found  friends.  He  told  them  that  he  boarded  at  a 
restaurant,  and  he  asked  if  he  might  take  supper  with  them. 

"Him  is  yours  already,"  said  Mr.  Bruder. 

"No,  it  isn't,"  said  Dennis — "not  after  I  have  given  it 
to  you.  But  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  several  matters, 
for  I  think  you  can  be  of  great  service  to  me;"  and  he  told 
them  of  his  experience  during  the  day;  that  he  had  been 
promoted,  and  that  he  wanted  Ernst  to  come  and  aid  him  in 
his  duties.  Then  he  touched  on  the  matter  nearest  his  heart 
— his  own  wish  to  be  an  artist,  his  need  of  instruction — and 
told  how  by  his  increase  of  pay  he  had  now  the  means  of 
taking  lessons,  while  still  able  to  support  his  mother  and 
sisters. 

"And  now,  Mr.  Bruder,  I  feel  that  I  have  been  very 
fortunate  in  making  your  acquaintance.  You  have  the  touch 
and  tone  that  i  should  be  overjoyed  to  acquire.  Will  you 
give  me  lessons  ?" 

"Yes,  morning,  noon,  and  night,  vithout  von  shent  of 
pay." 

"That  will  not  do.     I'll  not  take  one  on  those  terms." 

"I  vill  do  vatever  you  want  me  to,"  said  the  man,  sim- 
ply, "I  vish  I  could  be  led  and  vatched  over  as  a  little 
child." 

Dennis  saw  his  pathetic  self-distrust,  and  it  touched  him 
deeply. 

"As  your  friend,"  he  said,  with  emphasis,  "I  will  not 
advise  you  to  do  anything  that  I  would  not  do  myself." 

So  they  arranged  that  Ernst  should  go  to  the  store  in 
the  morning,  and  that  Dennis  should  come  three  nights 
TO.  *»he  week  for  lessons. 

All  made  a  hearty  supper  save  Mr.  Bruder.  He  had 
reached  that  desperate  stage  when  his  diseased  stomach 
drink  only.  But  a  strong  cup  of  tea,  and  some  bread 


RESCUED  129 

that  he  washed  down  with  it,  heartened  him  a  little,  and  it 
was  evident  that  he  felt  better.  The  light  of  a  faint  hope 
was  dawning  in  his  face. 

Dennis  knew  something  of  the  physical  as  well  as  moral 
struggle  before  the  poor  man,  and  knew  that  after  all  it 
was  exceedingly  problematical  whether  he  could  be  saved. 
Before  he  went  away  he  told  Mrs.  Bruder  to  make  her  hus- 
band some  very  strong  coffee  in  the  morning,  and  to  let  him 
drink  it  through  the  day.  As  for  Bruder,  he  had  resolved 
to  die  rather  than  touch  another  drop  of  liquor. 

But  how  many  poor  victims  of  appetite  have  been 
haunted  to  the  grave  by  such  resolves — shattered  and  gone 
almost  as  soon  as  made ! 

After  a  long,  earnest  talk,  in  which  much  of  the  past  was 
revealed  on  both  sides,  Dennis  drew  a  small  Testament  from 
is  pocket  and  said:  "Mr.  Bruder,  I  wish  to  direct  your 
thoughts  to  a  better  Friend  than  I  am  or  can  be.  Will  you 
let  me  read  you  something  about  Him  ?' ' 

"Yes,  and  dank  you.  But  choose  someding  strong — 
suited  to  me." 

Dennis  read  something  strong — the  story  of  the  Demoniac 
of  Gadara,  and  left  him  "sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed 
and  in  his  right  mind. ' ' 

"Mr.  Bruder,  permit  me  as  your  friend  to  say  that  I  think 
that  is  the  only  safe  place  for  you.  Your  better  self,  your 
true  manhood,  has  been  overpowered  by  the  demon  of  in- 
temperance. I  do  not  undervalue  human  will  and  purpose, 
but  I  think  you  need  a  divine,  all-powerful  Deliverer." 

"I  know  you  are  right,"  said  Mr.  Bruder.  "I  haf  re- 
solved ofer  and  ofer  again,  only  to  do  vorse,  and  sink 
deeper  at  der  next  temptation,  till  at  last  I  gave  up  trying. 
Unless  I  am  sustained  by  some  strength  greater  dan  mine, 
I  haf  no  hope.  I  feel  dot  your  human  sympathy  and  kind- 
ness vill  be  a  great  help  to  me,  and  somehow  I  dake  him  as 
an  earnest  dot  Gott  vil  be  kind  to  me  too. ' ' 

"Oh,  Mr.  Fleet!"  he  continued,  as  Dennis  rose  to  go, 
uhow  much  I  owe  to  you!  I  vas  in  hell  on  earth  ven  you 


130  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

came.  I  vould  haf  been  in  hell  beneath  before  morning. 
I  proposed,  from  the  proceeds  of  dot  picture,  to  indulge  in 
von  more  delirium,  and  den  seek  to  quench  all  in  der  vaters 
of  derlake." 

Dennis  shuddered,  but  said:  "And  I  believe  that  God 
purposes  that  you  should  have  a  good  life  here,  and  a 
happy  life  in  heaven.  Co- work  with  Him." 

"If  He  vill  help  me,  I'll  try,"  said  the  man,  humbly. 
"Good-night,  and  Gott  bless  you;"  and  he  almost  crushed 
Dennis's  hand. 

As  the  young  man  turned  to  Mrs.  Bruder,  he  was  much 
struck  by  her  appearance :  she  was  very  pale,  and  a  wonder- 
ful light  shone  from  her  eyes.  She  took  his  hand  in  both 
of  hers,  and  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  with  an  expression 
he  could  never  forget,  and  then  slowly  pointed  heavenward 
without  a  word. 

Dennis  hastened  away,  much  overcome  by  his  own  feel- 
ings. But  the  silent,  deserted  streets  seemed  luminous,  such 
was  the  joy  of  his  heart. 


MISS    LUDOLPH   MAKES   A    D1SGOVERY  131 


CHAPTEK  XVIII 

MISS   LUDOLPH   MAKES   A  DISCOVERY 

SEVERAL  hours  were  measured  off  by  the  clock  of  a 
neighboring  steeple  before  Dennis's  excited  mind  was 
sufficiently  calm  to  permit  sleep,  and  even  then  he 
often  started  up  from  some  fantastic  dream  in  which  the 
Bruders  and  Mr.  and  Miss  Ludolph  acted  strange  parts. 
At  last  he  seemed  to  hear  exquisite  music.  As  the  song 
rose  and  fell,  it  thrilled  him  with  delight.  Suddenly  it 
appeared  to  break  into  a  thousand  pieces,  and  fall  scatter- 
ing on  the  ground,  like  a  broken  string  of  pearls,  and  this 
musical  trash,  as  it  were,  awoke  him.  The  sun  was  shin- 
ing brightly  into  the  room,  and  all  the  air  seemed  vibrating 
with  sweet  sounds.  He  started  up  and  realized  that  he  had 
greatly  overslept.  Much  vexed,  he  began  to  dress  in  haste, 
when  he  was  startled  by  a  brilliant  prelude  on  the  piano, 
and  a  voice  of  wonderful  power  and  sweetness  struck  into 
an  air  that  he  had  never  heard  before.  Soon  the  whole 
building  was  resonant  with  music,  and  Dennis  stood  spell- 
bound till  the  strange,  rich  sounds  died  away,  as  before,  in 
a  few  instrumental  notes  that  had  seemed  in  his  dream  like 
the  song  breaking  into  glittering  fragments. 

4 'It  must  be  Miss  Ludolph,"  thought  Dennis.  "And 
can  she  sing  like  that?  What  an  angel  true  faith  would 
make  of  her!  Oh,  how  could  I  oversleep  so!"  And  he 
dressed  in  breathless  haste.  In  going  down  to  the  second 
floor,  he  found  a  piano  open  and  new  music  upon  it,  which 
Miss  Ludolph  had  evidently  been  trying;  but  she  was  not 
there.  Yet  a  peculiar  delicate  perfume  which  the  young 


132  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

lady  always  used  pervaded  the  place,  even  as  her  song  had 
seemed  to  pulsate  through  the  air  after  it  had  ceased.  She 
could  not  be  far  off.  Stepping  to  a  picture  show-room  over 
the  front  door,  Dennis  found  her  sitting  quietly  before  a 
large  painting,  sketching  one  of  the  figures  in  it. 

"I  learned  from  my  father  that  you  were  a  very  early 
riser, ' '  she  said,  looking  up  for  a  moment,  and  then  resum- 
ing her  work.  "1  fear  there  is  some  mistake  about  it.  If  we 
are  ever  to  get  through  rearranging  the  store  you  will  have 
to  curtail  your  morning  naps." 

"I  most  sincerely  beg  your  pardon.  I  never  overslept 
so  before.  But  I  was  out  late  last  night,  and  passed  through 
a  most  painful  scene,  that  so  disturbed  me  that  I  could  not 
sleep  till  nearly  morning,  and  I  find  to  my  great  vexation 
that  I  have  overslept.  I  promise  you  it  shall  not  happen 


"I  am  not  sure  of  that,  if  you  are  out  late  in  Chicago, 
and  passing  through  painful  scenes.  I  should  say  that  this 
city  was  a  peculiarly  bad  place  for  a  young  man  to  be  out 
late  in." 

41  It  was  an  experience  wholly  unexpected  to  me,  and  I 
hope  it  may  never  occur  again.  It  was  a  scene  of  trouble 
that  I  had  no  hand  in  making,  but  which  even  humanity 
would  not  permit  me  to  leave  at  once." 

"Not  a  scene  of  measles  or  smallpox,  I  hope.  I  am  told 
that  your  mission  people  are  indulging  in  these  things  most 
of  the  time.  You  have  not  been  exposed  to  any  contagious 
disease?" 

"I  assure  you  I  have  not." 

"Very  well;  be  ready  to  assist  me  to-morrow  morning, 
for  we  have  no  slight  task  before  us,  and  I  wish  to  com- 
plete it  as  soon  as  possible.  I  shall  be  here  at  half-past 
six,  and  do  not  promise  to  sing  you  awake  every  morning. 
Were  you  not  a  little  startled  to  hear  such  unwonted  sounds 
echoing  through  the  prosaic  old  store?" 

"I  was  indeed.  At  first  I  could  not  believe  that  it  was 
a  human  voice. " 


MISS    LUDOLPH   MAKES    A    DISCOVERY  133 

4 'That  is  rather  an  equivocal  compliment." 

"I  did  not  mean  to  speak  in  compliment  at  all,  but  to 
say  in  all  sincerity  that  I  have  seldom  heard  such  heavenly 
music. ' ' 

14  Perhaps  you  have  never  heard  very  much  of  any  kind, 
or  else  your  imagination  overshadows  your  other  faculties. 
In  fact  I  think  it  does,  for  did  you  not  at  first  regard  me 
as  a  painted  lady  who  had  stepped  from  the  canvas  to  the 
floor?" 

"I  confess  that  I  was  greatly  confused  and  startled." 

"In  what  respect  did  you  see  such  a  close  resemblance  ?" 

Dennis  hesitated. 

"Are  you  not  able  to  tell?"  asked  she. 

"Yes,"  said  Dennis,  with  heightened  color,  "but  I  do 
not  like  to  say." 

"But  I  wish  you  to  say,"  said  she,  wih  a  slightly  imperi- 
ous tone. 

"Well,  then,  since  you  wish  me  to  speak  frankly,  it  was 
your  expression.  As  you  stood  by  the  picture  you  uncon- 
sciously assumed  the  look  and  manner  of  the  painted  girl. 
And  all  the  evening  and  morning  I  had  been  troubling  over 
the  picture  and  wondering  how  an  artist  could  paint  so  lovely 
a  face,  and  make  it  express  only  scorn  and  pride.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  such  a  face  ought  to  have  been  put  to  nobler  uses. ' ' 

Miss  Ludolph  bit  her  lip  and  looked  a  little  annoyed,  but 
turning  to  Dennis  she  said,  with  some  curiosity:  "You  are 
not  a  bit  like  the  man  who  preceded  you.  How  did  you 
come  to  take  his  place?" 

"I  am  poor,  and  will  gratefully  do  any  honest  work 
rather  than  beg  or  starve." 

"I  wish  all  the  poor  were  of  the  same  mind,  but,  from 
the  way  they  drag  on  us  who  have  something  to  give,  I 
think  the  rule  is  usually  the  other  way.  Very  well,  that 
will  answer;  since  you  have  asked  papa  to  let  you  continue 
to  do  Pat's  duties,  you  had  better  be  about  them,  though  it 
is  not  so  late  as  you  think;"  and  she  turned  to  her  sketch- 
ing in  such  a  way  as  to  quietly  dismiss  him. 


134  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

She  evidently  regarded  him  with  some  interest  and  curi- 
osity, as  a  unique  specimen  of  the  genus  homo,  and,  look- 
ing upon  him  as  a  humble  dependant,  was  inclined  to  speak 
to  him  freely  and  draw  him  out  for  her  amusement. 

On  going  downstairs  he  saw  that  Mr.  Ludolph  was  writ- 
ing in  his  office.  He  was  an  early  riser,  and  sometimes, 
entering  the  side  door  by  a  pass  key  before  the  store  was 
opened,  would  secure  an  extra  hour  for  business.  He 
shook  his  head  at  Dennis,  but  said  nothing. 

By  movements  wonderfully  quick  and  dexterous  Den- 
nis went  through  his  wonted  tasks,  and  at  eight  o'clock, 
the  usual  hour,  the  store  was  ready  for  opening. 

Mr.  Ludolph  often  caught  glimpses  of  him  as  he  darted 
to  and  fro,  his  cheeks  glowing,  and  every  act  suggesting 
superabundant  life. 

He  sighed  and  said:  "After  all,  that  young  fellow  is  to 
be  envied.  He  is  getting  more  out  of  existence  than  most 
of  us.  He  enjoys  everything,  and  does  even  hard  work 
with  a  zest  that  makes  it  play.  There  will  be  no  keeping 
him  down,  for  he  seems  possessed  by  the  concentrated  vim 
of  this  driving  Yankee  nation.  Then  he  has  a  world  of 
delusions  besides  that  seem  grand  realities.  Well,  it  is  a 
sad  thing  to  grow  old  and  wise. ' ' 

Indeed  it  is,  in  Mr.  Ludolph's  style. 

When  Dennis  opened  the  front  door,  there  was  Ernst 
cowering  in  the  March  winds,  and  fairly  trembling  in  the 
flutter  of  his  hopes  and  fears.  Dennis  gave  him  a  hearty 
grasp  of  the  hand  and  drew  him  in,  saying,  "Don't  be 
afraid:  I'll  take  care  of  you." 

The  boy's  heart  clung  to  him  as  the  vine  tendril  clasps 
the  oak,  and,  upheld  by  Dennis's  strength,  he  entered  what 
was  to  him  wonderland  indeed. 

Mr.  Ludolph  looked  him  over  as  he  and  his  daughter 
passed  out  on  their  return  to  breakfast,  and  said,  "He  will 
answer  if  he  is  strong  enough." 

He  saw  nothing  in  that  child's  face  to  fear. 

Dennis  assured  him  with  a  significant  glance,  which  Mr. 


MISS   LUDOLPH  MAKES   A    DISCOVERY  135 

Ludolph  understood  as  referring  to  better  fare,  that  "he 
would  grow  strong  fast  now." 

Miss  Ludolph  was  at  once  interested  in  the  boy's 
pale  face  and  large,  spiritual  eyes;  and  she  resolved  to 
sketch  them  before  good  living  had  destroyed  the  artistic 
eSect. 

Under  kindly  instruction,  the  boy  took  readily  to  his 
duties,  and  promised  soon  to  become  very  helpful.  At 
noon  Dennis  took  him  out  to  lunch,  and  the  poor,  half- 
starved  lad  feasted  as  he  had  not  for  many  a  long  day. 

The  afternoon  mail  brought  Dennis  his  mother's  letter, 
and  he  wondered  that  her  prediction  should  be  fulfilled 
even  before  it  reached  him,  and  thus  again  his  faith  was 
strengthened.  He  smiled  and  said  to  himself,  "Mother 
lives  so  near  the  heavenly  land  that  she  seems  to  get  the 
news  thence  before  any  one  else." 

During  the  day  a  lady  who  was  talking  to  Mr.  Ludolph 
turned  and  said  to  Dennis:  "How  prettily  you  have  ar- 
ranged this  table!  Let  me  see;  I  think  I  will  take  that 
little  group  of  bronzes.  They  make  a  very  nice  effect 
together." 

Dennis,  with  his  heart  swelling  that  he  had  arrived  at 
the  dignity  of  salesman,  with  much  politeness,  which  evi- 
dently pleased  the  lady,  assured  her  that  they  would  be 
sent  promptly  to  her  address. 

Mr.  Ludolph  looked  on  as  if  all  was  a  matter  of  course 
while  she  was  present,  but  afterward  said:  "You  are  on  the 
right  track,  Fleet.  You  no'w  see  the  practical  result  of  a 
little  thought  and  grace  in  arrangement.  In  matters  of  art, 
people  will  pay  almost  as  much  for  these  as  for  the  things 
themselves.  The  lady  would  not  have  bought  those  bronzes 
under  Berder's  system.  When  things  are  grouped  rightly, 
people  see  just  what  they  want,  and  buy  the  effect  as  well  as 
the  articles;"  and  with  this  judicious  praise  Mr.  Ludolph 
passed  on,  better  pleased  with  himself  even  than  with 
Dennis. 

But,  as  old  Bill  Cronk  had  intimated,  such  a  peck  of 


136  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

oats  was  almost  too  much  for  Dennis,  and  he  felt  that  he 
was  in  danger  of  becoming  too  highly  elated. 

After  closing  the  store,  he  wrote  a  brief  but  graphic  let- 
ter to  his  mother,  describing  his  promotion,  and  expressing 
much  sympathy  for  poor  Berder.  Eegarding  himself  as  on 
the  crest  of  prosperity's  wave,  he  felt  a  strong  commisera- 
tion for  every  degree  and  condition  of  troubled  humanity, 
and  even  could  sigh  over  unlucky  Berder 's  deserved  tribu- 
lations. 

About  eight  o'clock  he  started  to  see  his  new  friends  in 
De  Koven  Street,  and  take  his  lesson  in  drawing.  They 
welcomed  him  warmly,  for  they  evidently  looked  upon  him 
as  the  one  who  might  save  them  from  the  engulfing  waves 
of  misfortune  and  evil. 

The  children  were  very  different  from  the  clamorous 
little  wolves  of  the  night  before.  No  longer  hungry,  they 
were  happy  in  the  corner,  with  some  rude  playthings,  talk- 
ing and  cooing  together  like  a  flock  of  young  birds.  Ernst 
was  washing  the  tea-things,  while  his  mother  cared  for  the 
baby,  recalling  to  Dennis,  with  a  rush  of  tender  memories, 
his  mother  and  his  boyhood  tasks.  Mr.  Bruder  still  sat  in 
the  dusky  corner.  The  day  had  been  a  hard  one  for  him. 
Having  nothing  to  do  in  the  present,  he  had  lived  the  mis- 
erable past  over  and  over  again.  At  times  his  strength 
almost  gave  way,  but  his  wife  would  say,  "Be  patient! 
your  friend  Mr.  Fleet  will  be  in  soon.1' 

From  a  few  hints  of  what  had  passed,  Dennis  saw  the 
trouble  at  once.  Mr.  Bruder  must  have  occupation.  Af- 
ter a  few  kindly  generalities,  they  two  got  together,  as  con- 
genial spirits,  before  the  rescued  picture;  and  soon  both 
were  absorbed  in  the  mysteries  of  the  divine  art. 

As  the  wife  looked  at  the  kindling,  interested  face  of 
her  husband,  she  murmured  to  herself  over  and  over  again, 
like  the  sweet  refrain  of  a  song,  "His  artist- soul  haf  come 
back;  it  truly  haf." 

The  lesson  that  night  could  be  no  more  than  a  talk  on 
general  principles  and  rules.  But  Mr.  Bruder  soon  found 


MISS    LUDOLPH  MAKES   A    DISCOVERY  137 

that  he  had  an  apt  scholar,  and  Dennis's  enthusiasm  kindled 
his  own  flagging  zeal,  and  the  artist-soul  awakening  within 
him,  as  his  wife  believed,  longed  to  express  itself  as  of  old 
in  glowing  colors. 

Moreover,  his  ambition  was  renewed  in  this  promising 
pupil.  Naturally  generous,  and  understanding  his  noble 
profession,  he  felt  his  poor  benumbed  heart  stir  and  glow 
at  the  thought  of  aiding  this  eager  aspirant  to  become  what 
he  had  hoped  to  be.  He  might  live  again  in  the  richer  and 
better-guided  genius  of  his  scholar. 

"I  will  send  you  by  Ernst  in  the  morning  some  sketch- 
ing paper,  materials,  and  canvas,  and  you  can  prepare  some 
studies  for  me.  I  will  let  him  bring  some  drawings  and  col- 
orings that  I  have  made  of  late  in  odd  moments,  and  you 
can  see  about  how  advanced  I  am,  and  what  faults  I  have 
fallen  into  while  groping  my  own  way.  And  I  am  going  to 
send  you  some  canvas,  also,  for  I  am  quite  sure  that  if  you 
paint  a  picture  Mr.  Ludolph  will  buy  it." 

The  man's  face  brightened  visibly  at  this. 

41  Will  you  let  your  friend  make  a  suggestion  ?"  continued 
Dennis. 

* '  You  can  command  me, ' '  said  Mr.  Bruder,  with  emphasis. 

4 'No;  friends  never  do  that;  but  I  would  like  to  suggest 
that  at  first  you  take  some  simple  subject,  that  you  can 
soon  finish,  and  leave  efforts  that  require  more  time  for  the 
future.  That  picture  there  shows  what  you  can  do,  and 
you  need  to  work  now  more  from  the  commercial  standpoint 
than  the  artist's." 

After  a  moment's  thought,  the  man  said,  "  You  are  right. 
As  I  look  around  dis  room,  and  see  our  needs,  I  see  dat  you 
are  right.  Do'  I  meant  to  attempt  someding  difficult,  to 
show  Mr.  Ludolph  vat  I  could  do." 

4 'That  will  all  come  in  good  time;  and  now,  my  friend, 
good-night." 

The  next  day  was  far  more  tolerable  for  poor  Bruder, 
because  he  was  occupied,  and  he  found  it  much  easier  to 
resist  the  clamors  of  appetite. 


138  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

Dennis's  sketches  interested  him  greatly,  for,  though 
they  showed  the  natural  defects  of  one  who  had  received 
little  instruction,  both  power  and  originality  were  manifest 
in  their  execution. 

"He,  too,  can  be  an  artist,  if  he  vill,"  was  his  emphatic 
comment,  after  looking  them  over. 

He  prepared  one  study,  to  be  continued  under  his  own 
eye,  and  another  for  Dennis  to  work  at  alone.  Afterward 
he  sat  down  to  something  for  himself.  He  thought  a  few 
moments,  and  then  outlined  rapidly  as  his  subject  the  figure 
of  a  man  dashing  a  wineglass  to  the  ground. 

As  he  worked,  his  wife  smiled  encouragement  to  him  as 
of  old,  and  often  looked  upward  in  thankfulness  to  Heaven. 


WHAT   IS    THE   MATTER    WITH   HIM?  139 


CHAPTER  XIX 

WHAT   IS   THE   MATTER   WITH   HIM? 

THE  sun  was  just  tingeing  the  eastern  horizon  with 
light  when  Dennis  sprang  from  his  bed  on  the 
following  morning.  He  vowed  that  Miss  Ludolph 
should  never  have  cause  to  complain  of  him  again;  for, 
great  as  was  the  luxury  of  being  awakened  by  such  ex- 
quisite music,  it  was  one  that  he  could  not  afford. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  he  gave  a  little  more  care  than 
usual  that  morning  to  his  toilet;  but  his  resources  were 
very  limited.  Still,  as  nature  had  done  so  much  for  him, 
he  could  not  complain.  By  half -past  six  his  duties  in  the 
store  were  accomplished,  and  brushed  and  furbished  up  as 
far  as  possible,  he  stood  outside  the  door  awaiting  his  fair 
task- mis  tress.  Sometimes  he  wondered  at  the  strange  fas- 
cination she  exercised  over  him,  but  generally  ended  by 
ascribing  it  to  her  beauty  and  love  of  art. 

A  little  after  the  time  appointed  she  appeared  with  her 
father,  and  seemed  pleased  at  Dennis's  readiness  for  work. 

"I  shall  not  have  to  sing  you  awake  this  morning,"  she 
said,  "and  I  am  glad,  for  I  am  in  a  mood  for  business." 

She  was  attired  in  a  close-fitting  walking-dress  that  set 
off  her  graceful  person  finely.  It  was  evident  that  her  ener- 
getic nature  would  permit  no  statuesque  repose  while  Dennis 
worked,  but  that  she  had  come  prepared  for  active  measures. 

She  had  inherited  a  good  constitution,  which,  under  her 
father's  direction,  had  been  strengthened  and  confirmed  by 
due  regard  to  hygienic  rules.  Therefore  she  had  reached 
the  stage  of  early  womanhood  abounding  in  vitality  and 
capable  of  great  endurance.  Active,  graceful  motion  was 


140  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

as  natural  to  her  as  it  is  for  a  swallow  to  be  on  the  wing. 
The  moment  she  dropped  her  book,  palette,  or  pencil,  she 
was  on  her  feet,  her  healthful  nature  seeming  like  a  moun- 
tain brook,  that,  checked  for  a  time  in  its  flow,  soon  over- 
leaps its  bounds  and  speeds  on  more  swiftly  than  ever.  But 
the  strange  part  of  this  superabundant  activity  was,  that 
she  never  seemed  to  do  anything  in  an  abrupt  way,  as  from 
mere  impulse.  Every  act  glided  into  another  smoothly  and 
gracefully.  Her  lithe,  willowy  figure,  neither  slight  nor 
stout,  was  peculiarly  adapted  to  her  style  of  movement. 
She  delighted  in  the  game  of  billiards,  for  the  quick  move- 
ments and  varied  attitudes  permitted,  and  the  precision  re- 
quired, were  all  suited  to  her  taste;  and  she  had  gained 
such  marvellous  skill  that  even  her  father,  with  his  practiced 
hand,  was  scarcely  her  match. 

As  she  tripped  lightly  up  the  long  winding  stairs  to  the 
show-room  over  the  front  door  where  their  labors  were  to 
begin,  she  appeared  to  Dennis  the  very  embodiment  of  grace 
and  beauty.  And  yet  she  seemed  so  cold  and  self-centred, 
so  devoid  of  warm  human  interest  in  the  great  world  of 
love,  joy,  and  suffering,  that  she  repelled  while  she  fascinated. 

"If  the  blood  should  come  into  the  cheeks  of  one  of  her 
father's  statues,  and  the  white  marble  eyes  turn  to  violet 
blue,  and  the  snowy  hair  to  wavy  gold,  and  it  should  spring 
from  its  pedestal  into  just  such  life,  it  would  be  more  like 
her  than  any  woman  I  ever  saw,'7  thought  Dennis,  as  he 
stood  for  a  moment  or  two  waiting  to  do  her  bidding. 

Her  plans  had  been  thoroughly  matured,  and  she  acted 
with  decision.  Pointing  to  the  side  opposite  the  door — the 
side  which  would  naturally  strike  the  eye  of  the  visitor  first 
— she  said,  "I  wish  all  the  pictures  taken  down  from  that 
wall  and  placed  around  the  room  so  that  I  can  see  them." 

She  began  as  an  absolute  dictator,  intending  to  give  no 
hint  of  her  plans  and  purposes  except  as  conveyed  by  clear, 
terse  orders.  But  these  had  so  intelligent  and  appreciative 
an  interpreter  in  Dennis,  that  gradually  her  attention  was 
drawn  to  him  as  well  as  to  his  work. 


WHAT  IS    THE   MATTER    WITH  HIM  f  141 

He  had  his  step-ladder  ready,  and  with  a  celerity  de- 
cidedly pleasing,  soon  placed  the  pictures  safely  on  the 
floor,  so  that  she  could  still  see  them  and  judge  of  their 
character.  Though  his  dexterous  manner  and  careful 
handling  of  the  pictures  were  gratifying,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  his  supple  form,  the  graceful  and  varied  atti- 
tudes he  unconsciously  assumed  in  his  work,  pleased  her 
more,  and  she  secretly  began  to  study  him  as  an  artistic 
subject,  as  he  had  studied  her. 

In  her  complacency  she  said:  "So  far,  very  well,  Mr. 
Fleet.  I  congratulate  myself  that  I  have  you  to  assist  me, 
instead  of  that  awkward  fraud,  Mr.  Berder. " 

"And  1  assure  you,  Miss  Ludolph,  that  I  have  longed 
intensely  for  this  privilege  ever  since  I  knew  your  purpose." 

"You  may  have  cause  to  reepnt,  like  many  another  whose 
wishes  have  been  gratified;  for  your  privilege  will  involve 
a  great  deal  of  hard  work." 

"The  more  the  better,"  said  Dennis,  warmly. 

"How  so  ?  I  should  think  you  had  more  to  do  now  than 
you  would  care  about." 

"Work  is  no  burden  to  one  of  my  years  and  strength, 
provided  it  is  suited  to  one's  tastes.  Moreover,  I  confess 
that  I  hope  to  derive  great  advantages  from  this  labor." 

"In  what  way  ?"  she  asked,  with  a  slight  frown,  imagin- 
ing that  he  thought  of  extra  pay. 

"Because  unconsciously  you  will  give  me  instruction, 
and  I  hope  that  you  are  not  unwilling  that  I  should  gain 
such  hints  and  suggestions  as  1  can  from  the  display  of  your 
taste  that  I  must  witness." 

"Not  at  all,"  said  she,  laughing.  "I  see  that  you  are 
ambitious  to  learn  your  business  and  rise  in  the  store." 

"I  am  ambitious  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  one  of  the  noblest 
callings." 

"What  is  that?" 

"Art." 

"What!"  said  she,  with  a  half -scornful  smile;  "are  you 
a  disciple  of  art?" 


142  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

"Yes;  why  not?" 

"Well,  I  do  not  wish  to  hurt  your  feelings,  but,  to  tell 
you  the  honest  truth,  it  seems  but  the  other  day  that  you 
were  Pat  Murphy." 

"But  am  I  a  Pat  Murphy?"  he  asked,  with  gentle 
dignity. 

"No,  Mr.  Fleet;  I  will  do  you  the  justice  to  say  that 
I  think  you  very  much  above  your  station." 

"I  am  sufficiently  a  democrat,  Miss  Ludolph,  to  believe 
that  a  man  can  be  a  man  in  any  honest  work." 

"And  I,  Mr.  Fleet,  am  not  in  the  least  degree  a 
democrat." 

Which  fact  she  proceeded  to  prove  by  ordering  him 
about  for  the  next  hour  like  the  most  absolute  little  despot 
that  ever  queened  it  over  a  servile  province  in  the  dark 
ages.  But  it  was  rather  difficult  to  keep  up  this  style  of 
dictatorship  with  Dennis.  He  seemed  so  intelligent  and 
polite  that  she  often  had  it  to  her  tongue  to  ask  his  oj 
ion  on  certain  points.  Toward  the  last  she  did  so,  and  the 
opinion  he  gave,  she  admitted  to  herself,  was  judicious; 
but  for  a  purpose  of  her  own  she  disregarded  it,  and  took 
a  different  way. 

Dennis  at  once  saw  through  her  plan  of  arrangement. 
In  the  centre  of  that  side  of  the  room  which  he  had  cleared,, 
she  caused  him  to  hang  one  of  the  largest  and  finest 
tures,  which,  under  Mr.  Schwartz's  management,  had^been 
placed  in  a  corner.  Around  the  central  painting  all  the 
others  were  to  be  grouped,  according  to  color,  subject,  and 
merit.  At  the  same  time  each  wall  was  to  have  a  character 
of  its  own.  Such  a  task  as  this  would  require  no  little 
thought,  study,  and  comparison;  and  Miss  Ludolph  was 
one  to  see  delicate  points  of  difference  which  most  observ- 
ers would  not  notice.  It  was  her  purpose  to  make  the  room 
bloom  out  naturally  like  a  great  flower.  This  careful  selec- 
tion of  pictures  was  necessarily  slow,  and  Dennis  rejoiced 
that  their  united  work  would  not  soon  be  over. 

To  her  surprise  she  often  saw  his  eyes  instinctively  turn- 


WHAT   IS    THE   MATTER    WITH   HIM?  143 

ing  to  the  same  picture  that  she  was  about  to  select,  and 
perceived  that  he  had  divined  her  plan  without  a  word  of 
explanation,  and  that  his  taste  was  constantly  according  with 
hers  in  producing  the  desired  effects.  Though  all  this  filled 
her  with  astonishment,  she  revealed  no  sign  of  it  to  him. 
At  eight  she  said:  "That  will  do  for  to-day.  We  have 
made  a  good  beginning— better  indeed  than  I  had  hoped. 
But  how  is  it,  Mr.  Fleet,  since  you  are  such  an  -uncompro- 
mising democrat,  that  you  permit  a  young  lady  to  order 
you  about  in  this  style  ?" 

Dennis  smiled  and  said:  "It  seems  perfectly  natural  for 
you  to  speak  in  this  way,  and  it  does  not  appear  offensive 
as  it  might  in  another.  Moreover,  I  have  voluntarily  taken 
this  position  and  am  in  honor  bound  to  accept  all  it 
involves. ' ' 

"But  which  was  the  controlling  motive  of  your  mind?" 

"Well,  a  few  seem  born  to  command,  and  it  is  a  pleasure 
to  obey, ' '  said  Dennis,  paying  a  strong  but  honest  compli- 
ment to  the  natural  little  autocrat. 

"Indeed,  Mr.  Fleet,  do  church  members  flatter?"  said 
she,  secretly  much  pleased. 

"1  did  not  mean  to  flatter,"  said  he,  flushing.  "They 
who  have  power  should  use  it  like  the  All-powerful — gently, 
considerately. 7 ' 

It  was  her  turn  to  flush  now,  and  she  said,  "Oh,  I  per- 
ceive, the  compliment  was  the  sugar-coating  of  the  little 
homily  to  follow." 

"I  have  no  such  diplomacy  as  you  credit  me  with,"  said 
Dennis,  looking  straight  into  her  eyes  with  honest  frank- 
ness. "I  merely  spoke  my  passing  thought." 

"But  he  has  fine  eyes,"  said  she  to  herself,  and  then  she 
said  to  him:  "Very  well,  I  certainly  will  give  you  credit  for 
being  superior  to  your  position.  Be  ready  again  to-morrow 
at  the  same  hour;"  and  with  a  smile  somewhat  kindly  she 
vanished. 

Somehow  she  seemed  to  take  the  light  out  of  the  room 
with  her.  The  pictures  suddenly  looked  tame  and  ordi- 


144  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

nary,  and  everything  commonplace.  Here  was  an  effect 
not  exactly  artistic,  which  he  could  not  understand.  He 
sighed,  he  scarcely  knew  why. 

But  the  day's  duties  came  with  a  rush,  and  soon  he  was 
utterly  absorbed  in  them. 

That  evening  Dennis  was  much  cheered  by  Mr.  Bruder's 
comments  on  his  sketches. 

''Considering  de  advantages  you  haf  had,  an  de  little 
time  you  can  give,  dey  are  very  goot.  You  haf  fallen  into 
de  natural  faults  of  dose  who  work  alone,  but  ve  can  soon 
cure  dese.  Now  here  is  some  vork  dat  I  vant  you  to  do 
under  my  eye,  and  dat  study  on  outlining  you  can  take 
home.  Moreover,  I  can  give  you  some  lessons  in  outlining 
from  my  own  picture;"  and  Mr.  Bruder  showed  him  what 
he  had  done. 

Dennis  saw  in  the  clear,  vigorous  profile  the  artist's 
thought,  and  congratulated  himself  that  his  teacher  was 
a  master  in  his  profession. 

For  two  hours  they  worked  and  talked,  and  Dennis  felt 
that  every  such  lesson  would  be  a  long  step  forward. 

Poor  Bruder  looked  more  and  more  like  himself  every 
day,  but  God  only  knew  how  he  had  to  struggle. 

"I  don't  know  how  him  vill  end,"  he  said.  "I  pray 
nearly  every  minute,  but  sometimes  I  feel  dat  I  must  drink 
even  do'  I  die  dat  moment. ' ' 

It  was  disease  as  well  as  appetite  that  he  was  fighting, 
for  appetite  indulged  beyond  a  certain  point  becomes  disease. 

His  wife's  face  was  different  also — the  sharp  look  of  mis- 
ery fading  out  of  it.  Dennis  noticed  the  changes,  and 
thought  to  himself,  while  walking  home:  "After  all,  the 
highest  art  is  to  bring  out  on  the  living  face  all  we  can  of 
God's  lost  image.  How  beautiful  the  changes  in  these  two 
poor  people's  faces!  and  the  best  part  of  it  is,  that  they  are 
the  reflex  of  changes  going  on  in  the  soul,  the  imperishable 
part." 

Then,  in  quick  and  natural  transition,  his  mind  reverted 
to  Christine  Ludolph;  and  the  thought  of  her  face,  which. 


WHAT   IS    THE   MATTE8    WITH   HIM?  145 

God  had  fashioned  so  fair,  but  which  was  already  sadly 
marred  by  sin,  becoming  fixed  and  rigid  in  pride  and  self- 
ishness, was  as  painful  as  if,  according  to  an  old  legend, 
her  lithe,  active  form  should  gradually  turn  to  stone. 
But  if  the  reverse  could  ever  be  true — if  the  beautifying 
Christian  graces  could  dwell  within  her  soul  and  light  up 
her  face — as  lamps  illumining  some  rare  and  quaint  trans- 
parency, the  resulting  loveliness  would  realize  the  artist's 
fondest  ideal. 

Musing  thus,  what  wonder  that  he  vowed  then  and 
there,  under  the  starlight,  to  pray  and  work  for  her  till 
the  new  life  should  illumine  her  heart.  Little  dreamed 
Christine,  as  she  slept  that  night,  that  the  first  link  of  a 
chain  which  might  bind  her  to  heaven  had  been  forged. 

The  dawn  was  late  and  lowering  on  the  following  morn- 
ing. Great  masses  of  clouds  swept  across  the  sky,  and 
soon  the  rain  was  falling  in  gusty  torrents.  Dennis  rose 
and  hastened  through  his  duties  as  before,  and  was  ready 
at  the  hour  appointed,  but  had  little  hope  of  seeing  Miss 
Ludolph.  Still  he  opened  the  door  and  looked  up  the 
street.  To  his  surprise  he  saw  her  coming,  attended  by 
her  father's  valet.  Only  part  of  her  glowing  face  was  vis- 
ible, for  she  was  incased  from  head  to  foot  in  a  light  and 
delicate  suit  of  rubber. 

Dennis  opened  the  door,  and  she  stepped  quickly  in, 
scattering  spray  on  every  side  like  a  sea-nymph.  The 
young  man  looked  at  her  with  open-eyed  admiration  and 
surprise,  which  both  amused  and  pleased  her. 

"True  enough,"  she  thought,  "his  face  is  like  a  sign- 
board. ' ' 

She  seemed  to  him,  as  she  threw  off  her  wet  coverings, 
like  an  exquisite  flower,  that,  lifted  by  the  breeze  after  a 
storm,  scatters  the  burdensome  rain- drops  on  every  side 
and  stands  up  more  beautiful  and  blooming  than  ever. 

"You  were  not  expecting  me,  I  imagine,"  she  said. 

"Well,  I  must  admit  I  scarcely  did,  and  yet  I  could  not 
help  looking  for  you." 

ROE— Y— 7 


146  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

''Isn't  that  a  distinction  without  a  difference?"  she 
asked,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  for  she  was  gratified  at  not 
finding  the  store  closed  and  dark. 

"I  am  very  glad  you  have  come,"  he  replied,  flushing 
slightly  with  pleasure,  "for  it  would  have  been  a  long, 
dreary  morning  if  you  had  not. ' ' 

Dennis  thought  he  referred  to  the  lack  of  occupation. 
He  did  not  know,  nor  did  she  notice,  that  he  meant  the 
lack  of  herself. 

"Well,"  said  she,  "I  am  glad  you  like  the  work,  for  you 
are  destined  to  have  enough  of  it." 


IS   HE   A    GENTLEMAN?  147 


CHAPTER  XX 

IS   HE    A   GENTLEMAN? 

THE  days  and  weeks  that  followed  were  to  Dennis  such 
as  only  come  once  in  a  lifetime,  and  not  in  every 
lifetime  either.  A  true,  pure  love  was  growing  up 
within  his  heart — growing  as  the  little  child  develops  in 
strength  and  pleasurable  life,  and  yet  unconsciously  to 
itself.  It  seemed  as  if  some  strong  magician's  wand  had 
touched  the  world  or  him.  Everything  was  transfigured, 
and  no  wonderland  was  more  full  of  interest  than  that  in 
which  he  existed.  His  life  was  a  waking  dream,  in  which 
nothing  was  distinct  or  definite,  but  all  things  abounded  in 
hope  and  happy  suggestion.  He  compared  it  afterward  to 
a  tropical  island  of  the  Pacific,  a  blissful  fragment  of  life  by 
itself,  utterly  distinct  from  the  hard,  struggling  years  that 
preceded,  and  the  painful  awakening  that  followed. 

Even  the  place  of  his  daily  toil  was  pervaded  by  a  beau- 
tiful presence.  For  many  days  he  and  Christine  worked  to- 
gether, and  at  last  her  eyes  had  rested  on,  or  her  fingers  had 
touched,  nearly  everything  in  the  store,  and  therefore  all 
was  associated  with  her.  Throughout  their  labors  his  quick 
sympathy  and  appreciation,  made  him  almost  hands  and  feet 
to  her,  and  she  regarded  him  as  a  miracle  of  helpfulness — 
one  of  those  humble,  useful  creatures  who  are  born  to  wait 
upon  and  interpret  the  wishes  of  the  rich  and  great.  His 
admiring  glances  disturbed  her  not  and  raised  no  suspicion 
in  her  mind.  She  had  been  accustomed  to  such  for  years, 
and  took  them  as  a  matter  of  course. 

She  treated  the  young  men  whom  she  met  in  society  with 


148  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

a  courtly  ease  and  freedom,  but  her  smiles  and  repartee  ever 
seemed  like  brilliant  moonlight  that  had  no  warmth;  and, 
while  no  restraint  appeared,  she  still  kept  all  at  a  distance. 
There  was  a  marked  difference  in  her  intercourse  with  Den- 
nis. Kegarding  him  as  too  humble  ever  to  presume  upon 
her  frankness,  she  daily  spoke  more  freely,  and  more  truly 
acted  out  herself  before  him.  She  was  happy  and  in  her 
element  among  the  beautiful  works  of  art  they  were  arrang- 
ing, and  in  this  atmosphere  her  womanly  nature,  chilled  and 
dwarfed  though  it  was,  would  often  manifest  itself  in  ways 
sweet  and  unexpected.  Under  no  other  circumstances  could 
she  have  appeared  so  well.  She  as  often  spoke  to  herself 
in  racy  comment  on  what  was  before  her  as  to  Dennis,  and 
ever  and  anon  would  make  some  pleasant  remark  to  him,  as 
she  might  throw  a  dainty  morsel  to  her  greyhound  Wolf, 
looking  wistfully  at  her  while  she  dined.  At  the  same 
time  it  must  be  confessed  that  she  had  a  growing  respect 
for  him,  as  she  daily  saw  some  new  proof  of  his  intelligence 
and  taste;  but  both  education  and  disposition  inclined  her 
instinctively  to  the  old  feudal  idea  that  even  genius,  if  poor, 
must  wait  a  humble  servitor  on  wealth  and  rank,  and  where 
a  New  England  girl  would  have  been  saying  to  herself, 
4 'This  gifted,  educated  man  is  my  equal,  and,  whether  I 
want  to  or  not,  I  ought  to  treat  him  as  such,"  she  was  not 
troubled  at  all.  To  her,  he  was  her  father's  clerk  and  man- 
of-all-work,  a  most  useful,  trusted,  and  agreeable  servant, 
and  she  was  kind  to  him  as  such.  Indeed  the  little  auto- 
crat was  kind  to  every  one  that  pleased  her.  She  was  a 
benign  queen  to  obedient  subjects,  but  woe  to  those  who 
were  otherwise. 

To  Dennis,  however,  though  he  realized  it  not,  she  was 
becoming  as  the  very  apple  of  his  eye.  He  was  learning 
to  regard  her  with  a  deeper  interest  because  of  the  very 
defects  that  he  plainly  recognized.  While  on  the  one 
hand  he  had  the  enthusiastic  love  caused  by  his  admira- 
tion for  her,  on  the  other  he  felt  the  tenderer  and  greater 
love  which  was  the  result  of  pity.  He  tried  to  account  for 


IS   HE   A    GENTLEMAN?  149 

his  feelings  toward  her  by  the  usual  sophistries  of  uncon- 
scious lovers.  It  was  friendship;  it  was  artistic  interest 
in  her  beauty;  it  was  the  absorbing,  unselfish  regard  of  a 
Christian  for  one  providentially  commended  to  him  to  be 
led  out  of  darkness  into  light.  How  could  he  help  think- 
ing of  one  for  whom  he  prayed  night  and  morning  and 
every  hour  in  the  day  ?  It  was  all  this,  but  he  was  soon 
to  learn  that  it  was  a  great  deal  more.  And  so  the  days  of 
occupation  and  companionship  passed ;  the  spell  worked  on 
with  increasing  and  bewildering  power,  and  the  crisis  could 
not  be  delayed  much  longer. 

One  morning  in  the  latter  part  of  April  she  seemed  more 
gracious  than  usual.  Their  labors  were  drawing  to  a  close, 
and,  as  he  had  proved  so  tasteful  and  efficient  in  the  store, 
she  concluded  that  he  might  be  equally  useful  in  other  ways 
and  places.  She  could  command  him  at  the  store,  but  not 
in  respect  to  a  task  that  she  had  in  view;  so  she  adopted  a 
little  feminine  artifice  as  old  as  the  time  when  Eve  handed 
Adam  the  apple,  and  she  looked  at  him  in  such  a  way  that 
he  could  not  refuse. 

Blind,  honest  Dennis,  it  is  needless  to  say,  saw  nothing 
of  this  little  strategy  of  which  he  was  destined  to  be  the 
happy,  willing  victim,  and  his  love  expanded  and  bloomed 
under  the  genial  light  of  her  presence  and  kindness,  like 
the  flowers  of  the  convolvulus  in  a  bright  dawn  of  June. 
She  brought  her  general  graciousness  to  a  definite  and 
blissful  climax  by  saying,  when  about  to  go  home,  "Well, 
Mr.  Fleet,  you  have  done  better  than  usual  to-day,  and  I  cer- 
tainly must  give  you  credit  for  possessing  more  taste  than 
any  young  man  of  my  acquaintance. ' ' 

Dennis's  heart  gave  as  great  a  bound  as  if  the  laurel 
crown  of  all  the  Olympic  games  had  been  placed  upon  his 
brow. 

"I  am  now  going  to  ask  a  favor,"  she  continued. 

"You  may  command  me,  Miss  Ludolph,"  interrupted 
Dennis. 

"No,  not  in  this  case,"  she  replied.     "Whatever  you  do 


150  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

will  be  regarded  as  a  personal  favor  to  me.  At  the  same 
time  it  will  afford  you  scope  for  such  display  of  your  taste 
as  will  secure  many  compliments." 

"If  I  am  able  to  satisfy  you  I  shall  be  more  than  com- 
pensated," said  Dennis  with  a  bow. 

She  smiled  and  thought  to  herself,  "That  isn't  bad  for  a 
porter  and  man-of-all-work, "  and  explained  as  follows: 

"Some  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  have  decided  upon 
giving  an  entertainment,  consisting  of  music,  tableaux,  and 
statuary.  Now,  in  regard  to  the  two  latter  parts,  we  need 
above  all  things  some  person  of  taste  like  yourself,  whose 
critical  eye  and  dexterous  hand  will  insure  everything  to  be 
just  right.  You  will  be  a  sort  of  general  stage  manager  and 
superintendent,  you  know.  I  feel  sure  you  will  be  all  the 
more  willing  to  enter  upon  this  work  when  you  know  that 
the  proceeds  are  to  go  toward  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Vir- 
gin. This  is  going  to  be  a  very  select  affair,  and  the  tick- 
ets are  five  dollars  each." 

"Is  it  a  Protestant  church?"  asked  Dennis,  in  some 
trepidation. 

"Oh,  certainly,"  she  answered,  with  a  peculiar  smile, 
"an  Episcopal  church." 

"It  seems  a  strange  name  for  a  Protestant  church,"  said 
Dennis.  "It  is  enough  for  me  that  you  wish  it;  at  the  same 
time  it  certainly  is  a  pleasure  to  contribute  what  little  I  can 
to  aid  any  Christian  organization." 

"Come,  Mr.  Fleet,  you  are  narrow,"  she  said,  with  a 
controversial  twinkle  in  her  eye.  "Why  not  toward  a 
Catholic  church?" 

"I  fear  that  all  people  with  decided  religious  opinions 
are  sometimes  regarded  as  narrow,"  he  answered,  with  a 
smile. 

"That  is  an  inadequate  answer  to  my  question,"  she 
said;  "but  I  will  not  find  fault  since  you  have  so  good- 
naturedly  acceded  to  my  request.  Come  to  No.  —  Wa- 
bash  Avenue  at  three  this  afternoon.  Papa  gives  you  leave 
of  absence." 


IS   HE   A    GENTLEMAN?  151 

She  vanished,  and  figuratively  the  sun  went  down  to 
Dennis,  and  he  was  in  twilight  till  he  should  see  her  again. 
He  looked  forward  to  the  afternoon  with  almost  feverish 
eagerness,  for  several  reasons.  It  would  be  his  first  intro- 
duction to  "good  society,"  for  as  such  the  unsophisticated 
youth  regarded  the  prospect.  He  had  the  natural  longing 
of  a  young,  healthful  nature  for  the  companionship  of  those 
of  his  own  age  and  culture,  and  his  life  in  the  great  city  had 
often  been  very  lonely.  He  expected,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
to  be  treated  as  an  equal  at  the  artistic  entertainment  in  which 
he  was  to  participate.  In  his  business  relations  at  the  store 
he  had  taken  a  subordinate  position  and  made  up  his  mind 
to  the  logical  consequences.  But  now  that  he  was  invited 
to  a  private  house,  and  would  appear  there  possessing  all 
the  qualities  of  a  gentleman,  he  surely  would  be  treated  as 
one.  "Is  not  this  Chicago,  whose  citizens  were  nearly  all 
poor  a  few  years  ago?"  he  thought;  "and  surely,  if  what 
Miss  Ludolph  says  is  true,  I  have  advantages  in  my  taste 
over  most  poor  young  men."  Moreover,  it  was  his  ideal 
of  an  entertainment,  where  art  and  music  should  take  the 
place  of  the  coarser  pleasures  of  eating,  drinking,  and  danc- 
ing. Chief  of  all,  Christine  would  be  there,  and  even  he  in 
his  blindness  became  a  little  uneasy  and  self-conscious  as  he 
realized  how  this  thought  towered  above  the  others. 

She  had  given  him  a  list  of  the  things  he  was  to  bring 
with  him  in  the  afternoon,  and  he  occupied  every  spare  mo- 
ment in  getting  them  ready.  At  a  quarter  past  two  he  sum- 
moned the  carman  of  the  store,  and  they  loaded  up  the  mis- 
cellaneous cargo  needed  for  the  coming  mysteries,  and  by 
three  all  were  before  the  large  elegant  mansion  to  which  he 
had  been  directed.  Dennis  rang  the  bell  and  was  shown 
by  a  servant  into  the  front  parlor,  where  he  found  Miss 
Ludolph,  Miss  Brown,  a  tall,  haughty  brunette,  and  the 
young  lady  of  the  house,  Miss  Winthrop,  a  bright,  sunny- 
faced  blonde,  and  two  or  three  other  young  ladies  of  no 
special  coloring  or  character,  being  indebted  mainly  to 
their  toilets  for  their  attractions.  Dennis  bowed  to  Miss 


152  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Ludolph,  and  then  turned  toward  the  other  ladies,  expect- 
ing as  a  matter  of  course  to  be  introduced.  No  introduc- 
tion came,  but  his  expectant  manner  was  so  obvious  that 
Miss  Ludolph  colored  and  looked  annoyed,  and  the  other 
young  ladies  tittered  outright. 

Advancing  a  step  or  two  she  said,  coldly,  "Mr.  Fleet, 
you  may  help  Mapes  carry  the  things  into  the  back  parlor, 
and  then  we  will  direct  you  as  to  the  arrangement. ' ' 

Dennis  crimsoned  painfully.  At  first  he  was  too  con- 
fused to  think,  and  merely  obeyed  mechanically.  Then 
came  the  impulse  to  say  boldly  that  this  kind  of  thing 
might  answer  at  the  store,  but  not  here,  and  he  nearly 
carried  it  out;  but  soon  followed  the  sober  second  thought, 
that  such  action  would  bring  a  blight  over  all  his  prospects, 
and  involve  the  loss  of  his  position  at  the  store.  Such  giv- 
ing way  to  passion  would  injure  only  himself.  They  would 
laugh,  and  merely  suffer  a  momentary  annoyance;  to  him 
and  his  the  result  would  be  most  disastrous.  Why  should 
he  let  those  who  cared  not  a  jot  for  him  cause  such  sad 
injury  ? 

By  the  time  he  had  carried  his  first  armful  into  the  back 
parlor,  he  had  resolved  for  his  mother  and  sisters'  sakes 
that  he  would  go  through  the  following  scenes  as  well  as 
he  could,  and  then  turn  his  back  on  society  till  he  could 
enter  it  a  recognized  gentleman ;  and  with  compressed  lips 
and  flashing  eye  he  mentally  vowed  that  that  day  should 
soon  come. 

As  he  was  unpacking  his  materials  he  could  not  help 
hearing  the  conversation  in  the  front  parlor. 

"Did  you  ever  see  such  presumption?"  exclaimed  Miss 
Brown.  "He  evidently  expected  to  be  introduced,  and  that 
we  should  rise  and  courtesy  all  around. ' ' 

"He  must  have  seen  better  days,  for  he  certainly  ap- 
peared like  a  gentleman,"  said  Miss  Winthrop. 

,  "I  should  hardly  give  that  title  to  a  man  who  swept  a 
store  out  every  morning,"  replied  Miss  Brown. 

"No,  indeed  I"  chorused  the  three  colorless  young  ladies. 


18    HE   A    GENTLEMAN?  153 

"I  know  nothing  about  this  young  man,"  said  Miss  Win- 
throp,  ruffling  her  plumage  somewhat  for  an  argument,  of 
which  she  was  fond;  "but,  as  a  case  in  hand,  suppose  a 
highly  educated  and  refined  man  for  some  reason  swept 
a  store  out  every  morning,  what  would  you  call  him?" 
and  she  looked  around  as  if  she  had  given  a  poser. 

The  colorless  young  ladies  looked  blank — their  natural 
expression. 

"Nonsense!"  said  the  positive  Miss  Brown;  "such  men 
don't  sweep  stores.  He  may  have  passed  current  in  some 
country  village,  but  that  is  not  our  set." 

"But  the  case  is  certainly  supposable,"  retorted  Miss 
Winthrop,  more  intent  upon  her  argument  than  upon  Den- 
nis. "Come,  what  does  the  Countess  say  ?"  she  asked,  turn- 
ing to  Christine;  for  that  was  the  familiar  name  by  which 
she  went  among  her  young  companions. 

"The  case  is  not  supposable,  but  actual,"  she  answered, 
so  distinctly  that  it  seemed  that  she  meant  Dennis  to  hear. 
"As  far  as  I  have  any  means  of  judging,  he  is  a  refined, 
educated  man,  and  I  have  learned  from  papa  that  his  mo- 
tive in  sweeping  the  store  is  the  support  of  his  mother  and 
sisters — certainly  a  very  worthy  one.  To  your  question, 
Susie,  I  answer  unhesitatingly  that  in  accordance  with  your 
American  principles  and  professions  he  is  a  gentleman,  and 
you  ought  to  treat  him  as  such.  But  you  Americans  are 
sometimes  wonderfully  inconsistent,  and  there  is  often  a 
marvellously  wide  margin  between  your  boasted  equality 
and  the  reality.  Now  in  Europe  these  questions  have  been 
settled  for  ages,  and  birth  and  rank  define  a  person's  posi- 
tion accurately. ' ' 

"I  do  not  believe  in  equality,"  said  Miss  Brown,  with 
a  toss  of  her  head.  (Her  father  was  a  mighty  brewer,  but 
he  and  hers  were  in  character  and  antecedents  something 
like  the  froth  on  their  own  beer.) 

Miss  Winthrop  was  a  little  embarrassed  at  finding  her 
supposed  case  a  real  one,  for  it  might  involve  some  practical 
action  on  her  part.  Many  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  people 


154  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

in  theory  gives  them  practically  the  cold  shoulder,  and  is 
content  to  stay  on  the  summit  of  Mt.  Olympus.  She  was 
a  girl  of  good  impulses  and  strong  convictions  of  abstract 
right,  but  rarely  had  either  the  courage  or  the  opportunity 
to  carry  them  out.  She  was  of  the  old  Boston  family  of 
Winthrops,  and  therefore  could  meet  Miss  Ludolph  on  her 
own  ground  in  the  way  of  pedigree. 

But,  however  Dennis  fared,  she  felt  that  she  must  look 
after  her  argument,  and,  having  conquered  theoretically  as 
far  as  America  was  concerned,  determined  to  carry  war  into 
Europe,  so  she  said:  "Are  you  not  mistaken  in  saying  that 
birth  and  rank  only  settle  position  abroad  ?  Some  of  the 
most  honored  names  there  are  or  were  untitled. " 

4 'Oh,  certainly,  but  they  were  persons  of  great  genius, 
and  genius  is  the  highest  patent  of  nobility.  But  I  leave 
you  republicans  to  settle  this  question  to  suit  yourselves. 
I  am  going  to  look  after  the  preparations  for  this  evening, 
as  1  have  set  my  heart  on  a  success  that  shall  ring  through 
the  city." 

But  they  all  flocked  after  her  into  the  back  parlor,  now 
doubly  interesting  as  it  contained  an  object  of  curiosity  in 
Dennis  Fleet — a  veritable  gentleman  who  swept  a  store. 


CHRISTINE'S   IDEA    OF   CHRISTIANS  155 


CHAPTER  XXI 

CHRISTINE'S  IDEA  OF  CHRISTIANS 

THE  large  apartment  where  the  amateur  performers  ex- 
pected to  win  their  laurels  was  now  filled  with  all 
the  paraphernalia  needed  to  produce  musical,  artis- 
tic, and  scenic  effects.     Much  had  been  gathered  before  Den- 
nis's arrival,  and  his  cart-load  added  all  that  was  necessary. 
Everything  seemed  in  inextricable  confusion. 

The  idea  of  having  anything  here  to-night!"  exclaimed 
Miss  Winthrop.  "It  will  take  us  a  week  to  get  things 
arranged." 

"The  thing  is  hopeless,"  said  the  blank  young  ladies. 

Even  Christine  looked  somewhat  dismayed,  but  she  said, 
"Eemember  we  have  till  half -past  eight." 

4 '  I  will  call  two  or  three  of  the  servants, ' '  said  Miss  Brown. 

"I  beg  of  you  do  not,  at  least  not  yet,"  exclaimed  Chris- 
tine. "What  will  their  clumsy  hands  do  in  work  like  this, 
but  mar  everything.  I  have  great  faith  in  Mr.  Fleet's  abil- 
ities,"  she  continued,  turning  toward  Dennis,  with  an  en- 
chanting smile,  and  resuming  the  tactics  of  the  morning. 
Though  the  smile  went  to  Dennis's  heart  like  a  fiery  arrow, 
his  pride,  thoroughly  aroused,  made  him  cold  and  self- 
possessed.  He  naturally  assumed  the  manner  possible  only 
to  the  true  gentleman  who,  though  wronged,  chooses  not  to 
show  his  feelings  save  by  a  grave,  quiet  dignity.  In  view 
of  their  action  and  manner,  he  consciously  felt  himself  their 
superior;  and  this  impression,  like  an  atmosphere,  was  felt 
by  them  also.  As  they  looked  upon  his  tall,  erect  form, 
manly  bearing,  and  large  dark  eyes,  in  which  still  lurked 


156  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

the  fire  of  an  honest  indignation,  they  felt  the  impossibility 
of  ordering  him  about  like  Mapes  the  carman.  They  re- 
garded him  for  a  moment  in  awkward  silence,  not  knowing 
what  to  do  or  say.  Even  haughty  Christine  was  embar- 
rassed, for  the  stronger  spirit  was  present  and  thoroughly 
aroused,  and  it  overpowered  the  weaker  natures.  Christine 
had  never  seen  Dennis  look  like  that,  and  did  not  know 
that  he  could.  He  was  so  different  from  the  eager,  humble 
servitor  that  heretofore  had  interpreted  her  very  wishes, 
even  before  they  were  spoken!  Moreover,  the  success  of 
their  entertainment  now  depended  upon  him,  and  she  felt 
that  he  was  in  a  mood  requiring  delicate  treatment,  and 
that  she  could  not  order  him  around  in  the  role  to  which 
she  had  assigned  him.  And  yet  if  she  had  known  him,  she 
might,  for  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  go  through  even 
the  most  menial  service  with  proud  humility,  and  then  be 
careful  not  to  be  so  caught  again;  and,  when  Dennis  had 
resolved  upon  a  thing,  that  settled  the  question  so  far  as 
he  was  concerned.  Seeing  Christine's  hesitation  and  em- 
barrassment, he  stepped  forward  and  said:  "Miss  Ludolph, 
if  you  will  indicate  your  wishes  I  will  carry  them  out  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  I  can  soon  bring  order  out  of  this  con- 
fusion; and  you  must  have  some  plan  of  arrangement." 

She  gave  him  a  quick,  grateful  glance,  that  thawed  more 
of  his  ice  than  he  cared  to  have  melt  so  quickly. 

"Of  course  we  have,"  said  she.  "This  is  but  the  ner- 
vous hesitation  before  the  shock  of  a  battle  that  has  all 
been  planned  on  paper.  Here  is  our  programme." 

"All  battles  do  not  go  forward  in  the  field  as  planned  on 
paper,  if  my  feeble  memory  serves  me,"  said  Miss  Win- 
throp,  maliciously. 

"I  grant  you  that,"  said  Christine,  quietly,  "and  you 
need  not  tax  your  memory  so  greatly  to  prove  it." 

She  was  now  very  kind  and  gracious  to  Dennis,  believ- 
ing that  to  be  the  best  policy.  It  usually  is,  but  she  re- 
ceived no  special  proof  of  it  from  him:  he  listened  alike  to 
request,  suggestion,  and  compliment.  There  was  nothing 


CHRISTINE'S    IDEA    OF   CHRISTIANS  157 

sullen  or  morose  in  his  appearance,  nothing  resentful  or 
rude.  With  the  utmost  respect  he  heard  all  she  said,  and 
carried  out  her  wishes  with  that  deft,  graceful  promptness 
in  which  he  had  few  equals.  At  the  same  time  his  manner 
was  that  of  one  who  thoroughly  respected  himself — that 
of  a  refined  and  cultivated  person,  who,  having  become 
committed  to  a  disagreeable  part,  performed  it  with  only 
the  protest  of  dignified  silence. 

As  his  first  step,  he  cleared  a  space  for  action,  and  ar- 
ranged everything  to  be  in  view  when  needed.  The  rapidity 
with  which  order  emerged  from  confusion  was  marvellous 
to  the  young  ladies. 

Then  he  took  their  programme,  studied  it  a  few  mo- 
ments, and  compared  it  with  the  pictures  of  the  scenes  they 
wished  to  imitate.  He  then  arranged  for  these  one  after  an- 
other, placing  everything  needed  within  reach,  and  where 
it  could  readily  be  seen,  making  the  combinations  before- 
hand as  far  as  possible.  As  he  worked  so  intelligently  and 
skilfully,  requiring  so  few  explanations,  the  young  ladies 
exchanged  significant  glances,  and  strolled  into  the  front 
parlor.  They  must  express  an  opinion. 

"I  declare,  Christine,"  said  Miss  Winthrop,  "it  is  a 
shame  that  you  did  not  introduce  him,  for  he  is  a  gentle- 
man. He  works  like  a  captive  prince." 

"How  romantic!"  gushed  the  colorless  young  ladies. 

"Nonsense!"  said  Miss  Brown;  "I  hate  to  see  any  one 
in  his  position  putting  on  such  airs." 

As  soon  as  she  had  seen  Dennis  fairly  at  work  just  like 
her  mother's  servants,  or  her  father's  men,  she  felt  that 
he  ought  to  be  treated  as  such — riches  being  Miss  Brown's 
patent  of  nobility;  and  she  resolved  if  possible  to  lower  his 
ridiculous  pride,  as  she  regarded  it.  Miss  Brown  was  a  very 
handsome,  stylish  girl  of  a  certain  type,  but  she  no  more 
understood  Dennis's  feelings  than  she  did  Sanscrit. 

Christine  said  nothing,  but  admitted  to  herself,  with  a 
secret  wonder,  that  Dennis  awakened  in  her  a  respect,  a  sort 
of  fear,  that  no  other  man  had  inspired,  save  her  father. 


158  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

There  was  something  in  his  manner,  though  altogether  re- 
spectful, that  made  her  feel  that  he  was  not  to  be  trifled 
with.  This  impression  was  decidedly  heightened  when,  a 
few  moments  later,  Miss  Brown,  pursuant  of  her  resolution 
to  lower  Dennis's  pride,  ordered  him  in  an  offensive  manner 
to  do  something  for  her  that  had  no  connection  with  the 
entertainment.  At  first  he  acted  as  if  he  had  not  heard  her, 
but  his  rising  color  showed  that  he  had.  In  spite  of  warn- 
ing glances  from  Christine  and  Miss  Winthrop,  she  repeated 
her  request  in  a  loud,  imperious  tone. 

Dennis  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  and,  turning 
his  dark  eyes  full  upon  her,  said,  firmly,  "I  am  ever  ready 
to  offer  any  service  that  a  gentleman  can  to  a  lady,  but 
surely  I  am  not  your  footman." 

"Your  pride  is  ridiculous,  sir.  You  are  here  to  help, 
and  will  be  paid  for  it.  This  is  my  house,  and  I  expect 
persons  of  your  position,  while  in  it,  to  do  as  they  are 
bidden." 

' '  Since  such  are  the  rules  and  principles  of  your  house, 
permit  me  at  once  to  leave  you  in  full  possession;"  and  he 
was  about  to  retire  with  a  manner  as  cold  as  Mr.  Ludolph 
himself  could  have  assumed,  and  as  haughty,  when  a  light 
hand  fell  upon  his  arm.  Looking  down  he  met  the  deep 
blue  eyes  of  Christine  Ludolph  lifted  pleadingly  to  his. 

44 Mr.  Fleet,  you  need  not  do  what  is  asked.  It  is  not 
right  to  require  it.  In  fact  we  all  owe  you  an  apology. ' ' 
Then,  in  a  low,  quick  tone,  she  added,  "Will  you  not  stay 
as  a  favor  to  me?" 

She  felt  his  arm  tremble  under  her  hand,  there  was  a 
moment's  hesitation,  then  he  replied,  in  the  same  manner, 
"Miss  Ludolph,  you  can  command  me  on  this  occasion" 
(there  was  no  promise  for  the  future) ;  and  then  he  turned 
to  his  work  as  if  resolved  to  see  and  know  nothing  else  till 
the  ordeal  ended. 

In  spite  of  herself  Christine  blushed,  but  taking  Miss 
Brown  by  the  arm  she  led  her  aside  and  gave  her  a  vigorous 
lecture. 


CHRISTINE'S   IDEA    OF   CHRISTIANS  159 

"Are  you  sane?"  she  said.  "Do  you  not  remember 
that  nearly  a  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  tickets  are  sold, 
and  that  the  people  will  be  here  by  half-past  eight,  and  at 
nine  we  must  appear  ?  Even  after  what  he  has  done,  if  you 
should  drive  him  away  the  thing  would  be  a  failure,  and  we 
should  be  the  ridiculous  town-talk  for  a  year." 

"But  I  hate—" 

"No  matter  what  you  hate.  Treat  him  as  you  please  to- 
morrow. We  need  him  now;"  and  so  the  petted,  wilful 
girl,  spoiled  by  money  and  flattery,  was  kept  under 
restraint. 

A  great  deal  of  preparation  was  required  for  the  last  two 
pieces  on  the  programme,  and  the  young  ladies  grouped 
themselves  not  far  off  while  Dennis  worked.  Christine 
explained  from  time  to  time  as  the  natural  leader  of  the 
party.  Still  an  awkward  silence  followed  the  scene  above 
described.  This  restraint  could  not  long  endure,  and  one 
of  the  colorless  young  ladies  asked  a  question  that  led  to 
more  than  she  intended,  and  indeed,  more  than  she  under- 
stood. 

"Christine,  what  do  you  do  with  yourself  Sundays? 
Your  pew  is  not  occupied  once  in  an  age." 

"I  usually  paint  most  of  the  day,  and  ride  out  with  papa 
in  the  afternoon  when  it  is  pleasant." 

"Why,  you  are  a  perfect  little  heathen!"  they  all  ex- 
claimed in  chorus. 

"Yes,  I  suppose  I  am  worse  than  a  pagan,"  she  said, 
"for  I  not  only  do  not  believe  in  your  superstitions,  but 
have  none  of  my  own." 

"What  do  you  believe  in,  then?"  asked  Miss  Winthrop. 

"Art,  music,  fame,  power." 

She  announced  her  creed  so  coolly  and  decidedly  thai 
Dennis  lifted  a  startled  face  to  hers.  She  saw  his  grieved, 
astonished  expression,  and  it  amused  her  very  much. 
Henceforth  she  spoke  as  much  for  his  benefit  as  for 
theirs. 

"If  you  would  be  equally  honest,' '  she  continued,  "you 


160  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

would  find  that  your  creeds  also  are  very  different  from  the 
one  in  the  prayer-book." 

4 'And  what  would  mine  be,  pray,"  asked  one  of  the 
colorless  young  ladies. 

"1  will  sum  it  up  in  one  sentence,  Miss  Jones — 'Keep  in 
the  fashion.7  " 

"I  think  that  you  are  very  unjust.  I'm  sure  I  go  to 
church  regularly,  and  attend  a  great  many  services  in  Lent 
and  on  Saints'  days.  I've  been  confirmed,  and  all  that." 

"Yes,  it  is  the  thing  to  do  in  your  set.  Now,  here  is 
Miss  Winthrop,  a  Presbyterian,  who  manifests  quite  another 
religious  phase." 

4 'Pray  what  is  mine?"  asked  that  lady,  laughing. 

"Oh,  you  want  hair-splitting  in  regard  to  the  high  doc- 
trines— clear,  brilliant  arguments,  cutting  like  sharp,  merci- 
less steel  into  the  beliefs  of  other  denominations.  Then, 
after  your  ism  has  been  glorified  for  an  hour  on  Sunday 
morning,  and  all  other  isms  pierced  and  lashed,  you  descend 
from  your  intellectual  heights,  eat  a  good  dinner,  take  a 
nap,  and  live  like  the  rest  of  us  till  the  next  Sabbath,  when 
(if  it  is  a  fine  day)  you  climb  some  other  theological  peak, 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  perpetual  snow,  and  there  take 
another  bird's-eye  view  of  something  that  might  be  found 
very  different  if  you  were  nearer  to  it, " 

"And  what  is  my  phase?"  asked  Miss  Brown. 

"Oh,  you  are  an  out-and-out  sinner,  and  do  just  what 
you  please,  in  spite  of  priest  or  prayer-book,"  said  Chris- 
tine, with  a  laugh  in  which  all  the  ladies  joined. 

"Well,"  said  Miss  Brown,  "I  do  not  think  that  I  am 
worse  than  the  rest  of  you. ' ' 

"Not  in  the  least,"  replied  Christine.  "We  all  have 
some  form  of  religion,  or  none  at  all,  as  it  accords  with 
our  peculiar  tastes." 

"And  you  mean  to  say  that  having  a  religion  or  not  is 
a  mere  matter  of  taste?"  asked  Miss  Winthrop. 

"Yes,  1  should  say  it  was,  and  practically  that  it  is. 
You  ladies,  and  nearly  all  that  I  have  met,  seem  to  choose 


CHRISTINE'S    IDEA    OF   CHRISTIANS  161 

a  style  of  religion  suited  to  your  tastes;  and  the  tastes  of 
many  incline  them  to  have  no  religion  at  all." 

"Why,  Miss  Ludolph!"  exclaimed  Miss  Winthrop,  her 
cheeks  glowing  with  honest  dissent  and  zeal  for  the  truth; 
4 'our  religion  is  taken  from  the  Bible.  Do  you  not  believe 
in  the  Bible?" 

"No!  not  in  the  sense  in  which  you  ask  the  question; 
nor  you  either,  my  charming  Miss  Winthrop." 

"Indeed  I  do,  every  word  of  it,"  said  the  orthodox 
young  lady,  hotly. 

"Let  me  test  you.  Miss  Brown,  have  you  such  a  book 
in  the  house  ?  Oh,  yes,  here  is  an  elegantly  bound  copy, 
but  looking  as  if  never  opened.  And  now,  Miss  Winthrop, 
this  city  is  full  of  all  sorts  of  horrid  people,  living  in  alleys 
and  tenement  houses.  They  are  poor,  half-naked,  hungry, 
and  sometimes  starving.  Many  are  in  prison,  and  more 
ought  to  be;  many  are  strangers,  more  utterly  alone  and 
lonely  in  our  crowded  streets  than  on  a  desert  island.  They 
are  suffering  from  varieties  of  disgusting  disease,  and  having 
a  hard  time  generally.  How  many  hungry  people  have  you 
fed?  How  many  strangers  (1  do  not  mean  distinguished 
ones  from  abroad)  have  you  taken  in  and  comforted  ?  How 
many  of  the  naked  have  you  clothed  ?  And  how  long  is 
your  list  of  the  sick  and  imprisoned  that  you  have  visited, 
my  luxurious  little  lady?" 

A  real  pallor  overspread  Miss  Winthrop's  sunny  face, 
for  she  saw  what  was  coming,  but  she  answered,  honestly, 
"I  have  done  practically  nothing  of  all  this."  Then  she 
added:  "Papa  and  mamma  are  not  willing  that  I  should 
visit  such  places  and  people.  I  have  asked  that  I  might, 
but  they  always  discourage  me,  and  tell  of  the  awful  ex- 
periences of  those  who  do." 

"Then  they  don't  believe  the  Bible,  either,"  said  Chris- 
tine; "for  if  they  did  they  would  insist  on  your  doing  it; 
and  if  you  believed  you  would  do  all  this  in  spite  of  them; 
for  see  what  is  written  here;  the  very  Being  that  you  wor- 
ship and  dedicate  your  churcnes  to  will  say,  because  of  your 


162  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

not  doing  this,  'Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting 
fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.'  And  this  is  but 
one  of  many  similar  passages.  Now  all  this  is  a  monstrous 
fable  to  me.  The  idea  of  any  such  experiences  awaiting  my 
light-hearted  little  Sybarite  here!" 

Miss  Winthrop  had  buried  her  face  in  her  hands,  and 
was  trembling  from  head  to  foot.  The  words  of  God  never 
seemed  so  real  and  true  before  as  now  when  uttered  by  an 
unbeliever. 

"I  don't  believe  there  is  any  such  place  or  things,"  said 
Miss  Brown,  bluntly. 

"There  spake  my  mature  and  thoughtful  friend  who  is 
not  to  be  imposed  upon,"  said  Christine,  with  a  touch 
of  irony  in  her  tone. 

Dennis  had  listened  in  sad  wonder.  Such  words  of  cyn- 
ical unbelief  were  in  dark,  terrible  contrast  with  the  fair 
young  face.  He  saw  the  mind  and  training  of  her  father 
in  all  she  said,  but  he  bitterly  condemned  the  worldly,  in- 
consistent life  of  multitudes  in  the  church  who  do  more  to 
confirm  unbelievers  than  all  their  sophistries.  But  as  she 
went  on,  seemingly  having  the  argument  all  her  own  way, 
his  whole  soul  burned  to  meet  and  refute  her  fatal  views. 
For  her  own  sake  and  the  others'  as  well  as  for  the  dishon- 
ored name  of  his  Lord,  he  must  in  some  way  turn  the  tide. 
Though  regarded  as  a  humble  servitor,  having  no  right  to 
take  part  in  the  conversation,  he  determined  that  his  hands 
must  lift  up  the  standard  of  truth  if  no  others  would  or 
could.  To  his  joy  he  found  that  the  programme  would  soon 
give  him  the  coveted  opportunity. 

Christine  went  on  with  a  voice  as  smooth  and  musical  as 
the  flow  of  a  stream  over  a  glacier. 

"I  have  read  the  Bible  several  times,  and  that  is  more 
than  all  of  you  can  say,  I  think.  It  is  a  wonderful  book, 
and  has  been  the  inspiration  of  some  of  our  best  art.  There 
are  parts  that  I  enjoy  reading  very  much  for  their  sublimity 
and  peculiarity.  But  who  pretends  to  live  as  this  old  and 
partially  obsolete  book  teaches?  Take  iny  father,  for  in- 


CHRISTINE'S   IDEA    OF   CHRISTIANS  163 

stance.  All  the  gentlemen  in  the  church  that  I  know  of 
can  do,  and  are  accustomed  to  do,  just  what  he  does,  and 
some  I  think  do  much  worse;  and  yet  he  is  an  infidel,  as 
you  would  term  him.  And  as  to  the  ladies,  not  the  Bible, 
but  fashion  rules  them  with  a  rod  of  iron.  I  have  cut  free 
from  it  all,  and  art  shall  be  my  religion  and  the  inspiration 
of  my  life." 

As  Christine  talked  on,  the  twilight  deepened,  and 
Dennis  worked  with  increasing  eagerness. 

"After  all,"  she  continued,  "it  is  only  history  repeating 
itself.  The  educated  mind  to-day  stands  in  the  same  atti- 
tude toward  Christianity  as  that  of  the  cultured  mind  of 
Greece  and  Kome  toward  the  older  mythology  in  the  second 
century.  Then  as  now  the  form  of  religion  was  kept  up, 
but  belief  in  its  truth  was  fast  dying  out.  The  cities 
abounded  in  gorgeous  temples,  and  were  thronged  with 
worshippers,  but  they  sacrificed  at  the  dictates  of  fashion, 
custom,  and  law,  not  of  faith.  So  our  cities  are  adorned 
with  splendid  churches,  and  fashion  and  the  tastes  of  the 
congregation  decide  as  to  the  form  of  service.  The  sects 
differ  widely  with  each  other,  and  all  differ  with  the  Bible. 
The  ancients  gave  no  more  respect  to  what  was  regarded  as 
the  will  of  their  imaginary  deities  than  do  modern  Christians 
to  the  precepts  of  the  Bible.  People  went  to  the  ceremonies, 
got  through  with  them,  and  then  did  what  they  pleased; 
and  so  they  do  now. 

"Take  for  instance  one  of  your  commonest  doctrines, 
that  of  prayer;  the  majority  have  no  practical  belief  in  it. 
My  father  has  taken  me,  and  out  of  curiosity  I  have  attended 
several  prayer  meetings.  The  merest  fraction  of  the  con- 
gregation are  present  at  the  best  of  times,  and  if  the  night 
is  stormy  the  number  out  is  ridiculously  small.  Yet  all 
profess  to  believe  that  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  will 
be  present,  and  that  it  is  His  will  that  they  should  be. 
Your  Bible  teaches  that  the  Being  who  controls  completely 
the  destiny  of  every  person  will  be  in  the  midst  of  those 
gathered  in  His  name,  to  hear  and  answer  their  petitions. 


164  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

If  this  is  true,  then  no  earthly  ruler  was  every  so  neglected 
and  insulted,  so  generally  ignored,  as  this  very  Deity  to 
whom  you  ascribe  unlimited  power,  and  from  whom  you 
say  you  receive  life  and  everything.  An  eastern  despot 
would  take  off  the  heads  of  those  who  treated  him  in  such 
a  style;  and  a  republican  politician  would  scoff  at  the  idea 
of  giving  office  to  such  lukewarm  followers.  Why,  here  in 
Christian  Chicago  the  will  of  God  is  no  more  heeded  by  the 
majority  than  that  of  the  Emperor  of  China,  and  the  Bible 
might  as  well  be  the  Koran.  Looking  at  these  facts  from 
my  impartial  standpoint,  I  am  driven  to  one  of  two  alterna- 
tives: either  you  regard  your  God  as  so  kind  and  good,  so 
merciful,  that  you  can  trespass  on  His  forbearance  to  any 
extent,  and  treat  Him  with  a  neglect  and  an  indifference 
that  none  would  manifest  toward  the  pettiest  earthly  poten- 
tate, and  still  all  will  be  well;  or  else  you  have  no  real 
practical  belief  in  your  religion.  Though  not  very  charita- 
bly inclined,  I  cannot  think  quite  so  meanly  of  human 
nature  as  to  take  the  former  view,  so  I  am  driven  to  the 
latter.  For  surely  no  man  who  wished  to  live  and  prosper, 
no  woman  who  loved  her  husband  and  children,  could  so 
coolly  and  continually  disregard  the  Deity  in  whom  they 
profess  to  believe,  with  the  old  Greek  poet,  that  they  'live, 
move,  and  have  their  being. '  ' 

The  twilight  deepened,  and  Christine  continued,  her 
words,  portraying  the  decline  of  faith,  according  ominously 
with  the  increasing  gloom. 

"Why,  in  order  to  see  the  truth  of  what  I  am  saying, 
look  at  the  emblem  of  your  faith — the  Cross.  All  its  his- 
torical associations  are  those  of  self-denial,  and  suffering  for 
others.  The  Founder  of  your  faith  endured  death  upon  it. 
He  was  a  great,  good  man  like  Socrates,  though  no  doubt 
a  mistaken  enthusiast.  But  what  He  meant  He  said  plainly 
and  clearly,  as,  for  instance,  4 Whosoever  doth  not  bear  his 
cross  and  come  after  Me  cannot  be  My  disciple.'  I  admit 
that  in  the  past  He  had  a  wonderful  following.  In  the  ages 
of  martyrdom  multitudes  left  all,  and  endured  all  that  He 


CHRISTINE'S    IDEA    OF   CHRISTIANS  165 

did,  for  His  sake.  But  so  there  have  been  other  great  lead- 
ers with  equally  devoted  followers.  But  in  this  practical 
age  religious  enthusiasm  has  but  little  chance.  What 
crosses  do  the  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Virgin 
take  up  ?  and  what  are  borne  by  your  great  rich  church, 
Miss  Winthrop?  The  shrewd  people  of  this  day  manage 
better,  and  put  their  crosses  on  the  top  of  the  church.  I 
suppose  they  reason  that  the  stone  tower  can  carry  it  for 
the  whole  congregation,  on  the  principle  of  a  labor-saving 
machine.  But,  honestly,  your  modern  disciples  are  no  more 
like  their  Master  than  one  of  the  pale,  slim,  white- kidded 
gentlemen  who  will  be  here  to-night  is  like  Richard  Coeur 
de  Lion  as  he  led  a  charge  against  the  Moslems.  Your 
cross  is  dwindling  to  a  mere  pretty  ornament — an  emblem 
of  a  past  that  is  fast  fading  from  men's  memories.  It  will 
never  have  the  power  to  inspire  the  heart  again,  as  when 
the  Crusaders — " 

At  that  moment  their  eyes  were  blinded  by  a  sudden, 
dazzling  light.  There  was  a  general  and  startled  exclama- 
tion, and  then,  awe- struck  and  silent,  they  gazed  as  if  spell- 
bound upon  a  luminous  cross  blazing  before  them. 


166  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  XXII 

EQUAL  TO  AN"   EMERGENCY 

THE  fiery  cross  that  so  awed  Christine  and  her  little 
group  of  auditors  was  to  be  the  closing  scene  of  the 
evening  entertainment.  It  was  of  metal,  and  by  a 
skilful  adjustment  of  jets  was  made  to  appear  as  if  all 
aflame.  While  the  others  were  intent  on  Christine's  words, 
and  she  in  the  interest  of  her  theme  had  quite  forgotten 
him,  Dennis  made  all  his  arrangements,  and  at  the  critical 
point  narrated  in  the  preceding  chapter  he  turned  on  the 
gas  with  the  most  startling  effect.  It  seemed  a  living,  vivid 
refutation  of  Christine's  words,  and  even  she  turned  pale. 
After  a  moment,  for  the  emblem  to  make  its  full  impression, 
Dennis  stepped  out  before  them  all,  his  face  lighted  up  by 
the  luminous  cross.  They  admitted  that  no  crusader  could 
look  more  earnest  and  brave  than  he. 

"Miss  Ludolph,"  he  said,  in  a  firm,  yet  respectful  tone, 
"I  should  evermore  be  unworthy  of  your  respect  and  confi- 
dence— what  is  more,  I  should  be  false  to  myself,  false  to 
my  faith — should  I  remain  silent  in  view  of  what  I  have 
been  compelled  to  hear.  That  sacred  emblem  has  not 
spent  its  meaning,  or  its  power.  Millions  to-day  would 
die  for  the  sake  of  Him  who  suffered  on  it.  Many  even 
of  those  weak,  inconsistent  ones  that  you  have  so  justly 
condemned  would  part  with  life  rather  than  with  the  faint 
hope  that  centres  there,"  pointing  to  the  radiant  symbol. 

"You  are  rude,  sir,"  said  Christine,  her  face  pale,  but 
her  eyes  flashing  in  turn. 

"No,  he  is  right!    he  is  right!"  exclaimed  Miss  Win- 


EQUAL    TO   AN   EMERGENCY  167 

throp,  springing  up  with  tears  in  her  eyes.  "Undeserving 
as  I  am  of  the  name  of  Christian,  I  would  die,  I  know  I 
would  die,  before  I  would  give  up  my  poor  little  hope — 
though  I  confess  you  make  me  fear  that  it  is  a  false  one. 
But  it's  the  best  I  have,  and  I  mean  it  shall  be  better.  I 
think  a  good  touch  of  persecution,  that  would  bring  people 
out,  would  do  the  church  more  good  than  anything  else. 

4 'Pardon  me,  Miss  Ludolph, "  continued  Dennis;  "but  I 
appeal  to  your  sense  of  justice.  Could  I  be  a  true  man  and 
be  silent,  believing  what  I  do  ?  Could  I  hear  the  name  of 
my  Best  Friend  thus  spoken  of,  and  say  not  one  word  in 
His  behalf?" 

"But  I  spoke  most  highly  of  the  Christ  of  the  Bible." 

"You  spoke  of  Him  as  a  great,  good,  but  mistaken  mem, 
an  enthusiast.  To  me  He  is  the  mighty  God,  my  Divine 
Saviour,  to  whom  I  owe  infinitely  more  than  life.  You 
know  that  I  mean  no  disrespect  to  you,"  he  added,  with 
gentle  but  manly  courtesy.  "I  regret  more  deeply  than 
words  can  express  that  you  honestly  think  as  you  do. 
But  if  1  as  honestly  believe  the  Bible,  am  I  not  acting  as 
you  said  a  true  follower  ought  ?  For  I  assure  you  it  is  a 
heavier  cross  than  you  can  ever  know  to  speak  thus  un- 
bidden where  I  am  regarded  only  as  a  serving-man.  But 
should  I  not  be  false  and  cowardly  if  I  held  my  peace  ? 
And  if  you  afterward  should  know  that  I  claimed  the  name 
of  Christian,  would  you  not  despise  me  as  you  remembered 
this  scene  ?' ' 

Christine  bit  her  lip  and  hesitated,  but  her  sense  of  jus- 
tice prevailed,  and  she  said,  "1  not  only  pardon  you,  but 
commend  your  course  in  view  of  your  evident  sincerity." 

Dennis  replied  by  a  low  bow. 

At  this  moment  there  was  a  loud  ring  at  the  door. 

"There  come  the  gentlemen,"  exclaimed  Miss  Brown. 
"I  am  so  glad!  Oh,  dear!  what  a  long,  uncomfortable 
preachment  we  have  had!  Now  for  some  fun!" 

The  colorless  young  ladies  had  stared  first  at  Christine, 
and  then  at  the  cross,  in  blank  amazement. 


168  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

At  the  word  "gentlemen"  they  were  all  on  the  alert  and 
ready  for  real  life;  but  Miss  Winthrop  left  the  room  for  a 
short  time. 

A  handsome,  lively  youth  entered,  scattering  bows  and 
compliments  on  every  side  with  the  off-hand  ease  of  an 
accomplished  society  man.  He  paid  no  heed  to  Dennis, 
evidently  regarding  him  as  the  showman. 

"Well,  ladies,  you  have  done  your  part,"  he  said; 
"your  arrangements  seem  complete." 

"Yes,  Mr.  Mellen;  but  where  is  our  tenor?"  asked 
Christine.  "We  have  only  three-quarters  of  an  hour  for 
music  rehearsal,  before  we  must  retire  to  dress  for  our 
parts. ' ' 

"Bad  news  for  you,  Miss  Ludolph, "  said  Mr.  Mellen, 
coming  to  her  side;  "Archer  is  sick  and  can't  come." 

"Can't  come?"  they  all  exclaimed  in  dismayed  chorus. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  asked  Miss  Winthrop,  anx- 
iously, coming  in  at  that  moment. 

"Matter  enough,"  said  Miss  Brown,  poutingly;  "that 
horrid  Archer  has  gone  and  got  sick.  1  do  believe  he  did 
it  on  purpose.  He  did  not  know  his  parts  near  as  well  as 
he  ought,  and  he  has  taken  this  way  to  get  out  of  it. ' ' 

"But  he  promised  me  he  would  study  them  all  the 
morning,"  said  Christine.  "Oh,  I  am  so  sorry!  What 
shall  we  do  ?  Our  entertainment  seems  fated  to  be  a 
failure;"  and  she  spoke  in  a  tone  of  deep  disappoint- 
ment. 

"I  assure  you  I  feel  the  deepest  sympathy  for  you," 
said  Mr.  Mellen,  looking  tenderly  at  Christine,  "but  I  did 
my  best.  I  tried  to  drag  Archer  here  out  of  his  sick-bed, 
and  then  I  ran  around  among  some  other  good  gingers  that 
I  know,  but  none  would  venture.  They  said  the  music  was 
difficult,  and  would  require  much  practice,  and  that  now  is 
impossible." 

"Oh,  isn't  it  too  bad?"  mourned  Miss  Winthrop.  "The 
programme  is  all  printed,  and  the  people  will  be  so  disap- 
pointed! We  can't  have  that  splendid  duet  that  you  and 


EQUAL    TO    AN    EMERGENCY  169 

Mr.    Archer  were  to  sing,    Christine.      I  have  a  score  of 
friends  who  were  coming  to  hear  that  alone/' 

"Oh,  as  for  that  matter,  half  our  music  is  spoiled,"  said 
Christine,  dejectedly.  "Well,  this  is  the  last  time  I  attempt 
anything  of  the  kind.  How  in  the  world  we  are  going  to 
get  out  of  this  scrape  I  do  not  know.  The  tickets  are  so 
high,  and  so  much  has  been  said,  that  the  people  are  ex- 
pecting a  great  deal,  and  there  is  every  prospect  of  a  most 
lame  and  impotent  conclusion." 

A  general  gloom  settled  upon  the  faces  of  all.  At  this 
moment  Dennis  stepped  forward  hesitatingly  and  said  to 
Christine,  "Have  you  the  music  that  Mr.  Archer  was  to 
sing?" 

"Certainly!  do  you  suppose  it  was  of  the  kind  that  he 
could  extemporize?"  said  Miss  Brown,  pertly. 

"Will  you  let  me  see  it?  If  you  are  willing,  perhaps  I 
can  assist  you  in  this  matter. ' ' 

All  turned  toward  him  with  a  look  of  great  surprise. 

"What  do  you  think  of  that  from  the  man  who  sweeps 
Mr.  Ludolph's  store  ?"  asked  Miss  Brown,  in  a  loud  whisper. 

"I  think  the  fellow  is  as  presuming  as  he  is  ignorant," 
said  Mr.  Mellen,  so  plainly  that  all  heard  him. 

"  It  is  not  presuming,  sir,  to  offer  a  kindness  where  it  is 
needed,"  said  Dennis,  with  dignity,  "and  my  ignorance  is 
not  yet  proved.  The  presumption  is  all  on  your  part. f ' 

Mr.  Mellen  flushed  and  was  about  to  answer  angrily 
when  Miss  Winthrop  said  hastily,  but  in  a  kindly  tone, 
"But  really,  Mr.  Fleet,  much  of  our  music  is  new  and  very 
difficult." 

"But  it  is  written,  is  it  not?"  asked  Dennis,  with  a 
smile. 

Christine  looked  at  him  in  silent  wonder.  What  would 
he  not  do  next  ?  But  she  was  sorry  that  he  had  spoken,  for 
she  foresaw  only  mortification  for  him. 

"Oh,  give  him  the  music  by  all  means,'  said  Miss  Brown, 
expecting  to  enjoy  his  blundering  attempts  to  sing  what  was 
far  beyond  him.  "There,  I  will  play  the  accompaniment, 

BOB— 7— 8 


170  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

It's  not  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred  that  you  are  to  sing  now, 
young  man,  remember. ' ' 

Dennis  glanced  over  the  music,  and  she  began  to  play  a 
loud,  difficult  piece. 

He  turned  to  Miss  Ludolph,  and  said:  "I  fear  you  have 
given  me  the  wrong  music.  Miss  Brown  is  playing  some- 
thing not  written  here." 

They  exchanged  significant  glances,  and  Miss  W  inthrop 
said,  "Play  the  right  music,  Miss  Brown." 

She  struck  into  the  music  that  Dennis  held,  but  played 
it  so  out  of  time  that  no  one  could  sing  it.  Dennis  laid 
down  his  sheets  on  the  piano  and  said  quietly,  though  with 
flushed  face:  "I  did  not  mean  to  be  obtrusive.  You  all 
seemed  greatly  disappointed  at  Mr.  Archer's  absence  and 
the  results,  and  I  thought  that  in  view  of  the  emergency 
it  would  not  be  presumption  to  offer  my  services.  But  it 
seems  that  I  am  mistaken.'7 

14 No,  it  is  not  presumption,"  said  Miss  W inthrop.  "It 
was  true  kindness  and  courtesy,  which  has  been  ill  requited. 
But  you  see,  to  be  frank,  Mr.  Fleet,  we  all  fear  that  you  do 
not  realize  what  you  are  undertaking." 

"Must  I  of  necessity  be  an  ignoramus  because,  as  Miss 
Brown  says,  I  sweep  a  store?" 

"Let  me  play  the  accompaniment,"  said  Christine,  with 
the  decided  manner  that  few  resisted,  and  she  went  correctly 
through  the  difficult  and  brilliant  passage.  Dennis  followed 
his  part  with  both  eye  and  ear,  and  then  said,  "Perhaps  I 
had  better  sing  my  part  alone  first,  and  then  you  can  cor- 
rect any  mistakes. ' ' 

There  was  a  flutter  of  expectation,  a  wink  from  Mr.  Mel- 
len,  and  an  audible  titter  from  Miss  Brown. 

"Certainly,"  said  Miss  Ludolph,  who  thought  to  her- 
self, "If  he  will  make  a  fool  of  himself,  he  may";  and  she 
played  the  brief  prelude. 

Then  prompt  at  the  proper  moment,  true  to  time  and 
note,  Dennis's  rich,  powerful  tenor  voice  startled  and  then 
entranced  them  all.  He  sung  the  entire  passage  through 


EQUAL    TO   AN  EMERGENCY  171 

with  only  such  mistakes  as  resulted  from  his  nervousness 
and  embarrassment. 

At  the  close,  all  exclaimed  in  admiration  save  Miss 
Brown,  who  bit  her  lip  in  ill-concealed  vexation,  and  said, 
with  a  half-sneer,  "Beally,  Mr.  What-is-your-name,  you  are 
almost  equal  to  Blind  Tom." 

"You  do  Blind  Tom  great  injustice,"  said  Dennis.  "I 
read  my  music. ' ' 

"But  how  did  you  learn  to  read  music  in  that  style?" 
asked  Christine. 

"Of  course  it  took  me  years  to  do  so.  But  no  one  could 
join  our  musical  club  at  college  who  could  not  read  any- 
thing placed  before  him." 

"It  must  have  been  small  and  select,  then." 

"It  was." 

"How  often  had  you  sung  that  piece  before?"  asked 
Miss  Brown. 

"I  never  saw  it  before,"  answered  Dennis. 

"Why,  it  is  just  out,"  said  Christine. 

"Well,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  our  troubles  are  over  at 
last,"  said  Miss  Winthrop.  "Mr.  Fleet  seems  a  good 
genius — equal  to  any  emergency.  If  he  can  sing  that 
difficult  passage,  he  can  sing  anything  else  we  have.  We 
had  better  run  over  our  parts,  and  then  to  our  toilets. ' ' 

One  of  the  colorless  young  ladies  played  the  accompani- 
ments, her  music  making  a  sort  of  neutral  tint,  against  which 
their  rich  and  varied  voices  came  out  with  better  effect.  They 
sung  rapidly  through  the  programme,  Dennis  sustaining  his 
parts  correctly  and  with  taste.  He  could  read  like  the  page 
of  an  open  book  any  music  placed  before  him,  and  years  of 
practice  enabled  him  to  sing  true  and  with  confidence.  As 
he  sung  one  thing  after  another  with  perfect  ease,  their  won- 
der grew ;  and  when,  in  the  final  duet  with  Christine,  they 
both  came  out  strongly,  their  splendid,  thoroughly-trained 
voices  blending  in  perfect  harmony,  they  were  rewarded 
with  a  spontaneous  burst  of  applause,  in  which  even  Miss 
Brown  was  compelled  to  joia 


172  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

Christine  said  nothing,  but  gave  Dennis  a  quick,  grate- 
ful glance,  which  amply  repaid  him  for  the  martyrdom  she 
had  led  him  into  that  afternoon. 

He  acknowledged  the  plaudits  of  the  others  with  a 
slight,  cool  bow,  but  her  thanks  with  a  warm  flush  of 
pleasure,  and  then  turned  to  complete  his  arrangements 
as  if  nothing  had  happened.  There  was  not  the  slightest 
show  of  exultation  or  of  a  purpose  to  demand  equality,  in 
view  of  what  had  taken  place.  His  old  manner  returned, 
and  he  acted  as  if  they  were  all  strangers  to  him.  They 
exchanged  significant,  wondering  glances,  and  after  a  brief 
consultation  retired  to  the  dining-room,  where  coffee  and 
sandwiches  were  waiting.  Miss  Winthrop  and  Christine 
sincerely  hoped  that  Miss  Brown  would  invite  Dennis  out, 
but  she  did  not,  and  since  it  was  her  house,  as  she  had 
said,  they  could  not  interfere.  Dennis  heard  the  clatter 
of  knives  and  forks,  and  saw  that  he  was  again  slighted; 
but  he  did  not  care  now.  Indeed,  in  the  light  of  the  sacred 
emblem  before  which  he  had  stood,  he  had  learned  patience. 
He  remembered  how  the  rich  and  great  of  the  world  had 
treated  his  Master.  Then,  too,  Christine's  kind,  grateful 
glance  seemed  to  fall  upon  him  like  a  warm  ray  of  sunlight. 

When  they  had  finished  and  were  about  to  dress  for  their 
parts,  Miss  Brown  put  her  head  within  the  door  and  said, 
4 'You  will  find  some  lunch  in  the  dining-room." 

Dennis  paid  no  heed  to  her,  but  he  heard  Miss  Win- 
throp say:  "Keally,  Miss  Brown,  that  is  too  bad  after  what 
he  has  done  and  shown  himself  to  be.  I  wonder  that  he 
does  not  leave  the  house. ' ' 

"He  will  not  do  that  until  he  is  no  longer  needed,"  said 
Christine. 

4 'Then  he  may  as  soon  as  he  chooses,17  said  Miss  Brown. 
She  was  a  girl  of  violent  prejudices,  and  from  her  very  na- 
ture would  instinctively  dislike  such  a  person  as  Dennis 
Fleet 

"Well,"  said  Miss  Winthrop,  "he  is  a  gentleman,  and 
he  gave  the  strongest  proof  of  it  when  he  quietly  and  mod- 


EQUAL    TO   AN   EMERGENCY  173 

estly  withdrew  after  achieving  a  success  that  would  have 
turned  any  one's  head,  and  that  ought  to  have  secured  him 
full  recognition." 

4 'I  told  you  he  was  a  gentleman,"  said  Christine,  briefly, 
4 'and  I  consider  myself  a  judge;"  and  then  their  voices 
passed  out  of  hearing. 

Dennis,  having  arranged  everything  so  that  he  could 
place  his  hands  readily  upon  it,  found  that  he  had  half 
an  hour  to  spare.  He  said  to  himself:  4'Miss  Ludolph  is 
wrong.  I  shall  leave  the  house  for  a  short  time.  I  am  a  most 
unromantic  individual;  for,  no  matter  what  or  how  I  feel, 
I  do  get  hungry.  But  I  am  sure  Miss  Brown's  coffee  and 
sandwiches  would  choke  me.  I  have  already  swallowed  too 
much  from  her  to  care  for  any  more,  so  here's  for  a 
restaurant. ' ' 

Miss  Winthrop  hastened  through  her  toilet  in  order  that 
she  might  come  down  and  speak  to  Dennis  while  he  was 
alone.  She  wished  to  thank  him  for  his  course  and  his 
vindication  of  the  truth,  and  to  assure  him  that  she  both 
respected  him  and  would  treat  him  as  a  true  gentleman. 
She  went  into  the  back  parlor,  but  he  was  not  there;  then 
she  passed  to  the  dining-room,  but  found  only  servants 
clearing  away  and  preparing  for  the  grand  supper  of  the 
evening. 

In  quick  alarm  she  asked,  "Where  is  Mr.  Fleet?" 

4 'Is  it  the  man  in  the  back  parlor,  mum  ?  He's  just  after 
goin'  out." 

4 'Oh,  girls!"  exclaimed  Miss  Winthrop,  rushing  upstairs, 
<4Mr.  Fleet  has  gone." 

And  there  was  general  consternation. 


174:  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTEK    XXIII 

THE   REVELATION 

THE  toilets  of  the  young  ladies  were  nearly  completed, 
but,  without  waiting  to  add  another  touch,  all  hast- 
ened to  the  place  where  they  had  left  Dennis.  One 
of  the  colorless  young  ladies  appeared  upon  the  scene  with 
a  shawl  around  her  bare  shoulders,  and  a  great  deal  of  color 
on  one  cheek,  and  none  on  the  other  as  yet;  but  this  slight 
discrepancy  was  unnoted  in  the  dire  calamity  they  feared. 

Many  were  the  exclamations  and  lamentations. 

"Why,  the  people  will  be  here  in  fifteen  minutes,"  said 
Miss  Winthrop,  in  a  nervous  tremor. 

"Did  he  leave  no  word?"  asked  Miss  Brown  of  the 
servants. 

"  No  word,  mum,1'  was  the  dismal  echo. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  they  said,  looking  at  one  another 
with  blank  faces;  but  none  could  answer. 

"I  do  hate  such  proud,  freakish  people.  There  is  no 
managing  or  depending  on  them,"  said  Miss  Brown, 
spitefully. 

Miss  Winthrop  bit  her  lips  to  keep  from  saying  to  her 
hostess  what  would  be  more  true  than  polite.  There  was  a 
flash  of  anger  in  Christine's  dark  blue  eyes,  and  she  said, 
coldly:  "I  imagine  that  you  have  finished  the  business  this 
time,  Miss  Brown.  But  I  confess  that  I  am  greatly  sur- 
prised, for  he  said  I  could  depend  upon  him  for  to-night. ' ' 

"So  you  can,"  said  Dennis,  coming  in  behind  them.  "I 
am  sorry  you  have  had  this  needless  alarm.  But  the  fact 
is,  I  am  a  plain,  ordinary  mortal,  and  live  in  a  very  ma- 
terial way." 


THE   REVELATION  175 

"There  was  plenty  of  lunch  in  the  dining-room,"  said 
Miss  Brown,  tartly.  "You  need  not  have  gone  out  and 
made  all  this  trouble." 

"Pardon  me  for  slighting  your  hospitality, "  said  Dennis, 
with  slight  emphasis  on  the  word. 

Again  significant  glances  were  exchanged.  Miss  Brown 
darted  a  black  look  at  Dennis,  and  left  the  room. 

"I  can  assure  you,  ladies,"  added  he,  "that  all  is  ready. 
I  can  lay  my  hand  in  a  moment  on  whatever  is  needed. 
Therefore  you  need  give  yourselves  no  further  anxiety." 

There  was  a  general  stampede  for  the  dressing-rooms, 
but  Miss  Winthrop  lingered.  When  Dennis  was  alone  she 
went  up  to  him  and  frankly  gave  her  hand,  saying:  ltMr. 
Fleet,  I  wish  to  thank  you  for  your  course  to-day.  Between 
Miss  Ludolph's  unwitting  sermon  and  your  brave  and  un- 
expected vindication  of  our  faith,  I  hope  to  become  more 
deserving  of  the  name  of  Christian.  You  are  a  gentleman, 
sir,  in  the  truest  and  best  sense  of  the  word,  and  as  such 
it  will  ever  be  a  pleasure  to  welcome  you  at  my  father's 
house;"  and  she  gave  him  her  card. 

A  flush  of  grateful  surprise  and  pleasure  mantled  Den- 
nis's face,  but  before  he  could  speak  she  was  gone. 

The  audience  were  soon  thronging  in.  By  half-past  eight 
the  performers  were  all  in  the  back  parlor,  and  there  was  a 
brilliant  army  of  actors  and  actresses  in  varied  and  fanciful 
costume,  many  coming  to  the  house  dressed  for  their  parts. 
There  were  gods  and  goddesses,  shepherds  and  shepherd- 
esses, angels,  crusaders,  who  would  take  leave  of  languish- 
ing ladies,  living  statuary,  and  tableaux  of  all  sorts.  Dennis 
was  much  shocked  at  the  manner  in  which  ladies  exposed 
themselves  in  the  name  of  art  and  for  the  sake  of  effect. 
Christine  seemed  perfectly  Greek  and  pagan  in  this  respect, 
yet  there  was  that  in  her  manner  that  forbade  a  wanton 
glance.  But,  as  he  observed  the  carriage  of  the  men  around 
him,  he  was  more  than  satisfied  that  no  plea  of  art  could 
justify  the  "style,"  and  felt  assured  that  every  pure-minded 
woman  would  take  the  same  view  if  she  realized  the  truth. 


176  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

Under  the  name  of  fashion  and  art  much  is  done  in  society 
that  would  be  simply  monstrous  on  ordinary  occasions. 

The  music,  as  far  as  possible,  was  in  character  with  the 
scenes.  The  entertainment  went  forward  with  great  ap- 
plause. Every  one  was  radiant;  and  the  subtile,  exhila- 
rating spirit  of  assured  success  glowed  in  every  eye,  and 
gave  a  richer  tone  and  coloring  to  everything. 

Christine  appeared  in  several  and  varied  characters,  and 
Dennis  had  eyes  only  for  her.  The  others  he  glanced  over 
critically  as  the  artist  in  charge,  and  then  dismissed  them 
from  his  thoughts;  but  on  Christine  his  eyes  rested  in  a 
spell-bound  admiration  that  both  amused  and  pleased  her. 
She  loved  power  of  every  kind,  and  when  she  read  approval 
in  the  trained  and  critical  eye  of  Dennis  Fleet  she  knew  that 
all  the  audience  were  applauding. 

But  Dennis  had  little  time  for  musing,  so  great  was  the 
strain  upon  him  to  prevent  confusion.  His  voice  excited 
great  surprise  and  applause,  many  inquiring  vainly  who  he 
was.  When  he  and  Christine  sung  together  the  audience 
were  perfectly  carried  away,  and  stormed  and  applauded 
without  stint.  Indeed,  it  seemed  that  they  could  not  be 
satisfied.  The  call  was  so  urgent  that  several  asked  Chris- 
tine to  sing  again,  and  she  did  so  alone.  For  ten  minutes 
she  held  the  audience  perfectly  entranced,  and  no  one  more 
so  than  Dennis.  Usually  she  was  too  cold  in  all  that  she 
did,  but  now  in  her  excitement  she  far  surpassed  herself, 
and  he  acknowledged  that  he  had  never  heard  such  music 
before. 

The  very  soul  of  song  seemed  breathed  into  her,  and 
every  nook  and  corner  of  the  house  appeared  to  vibrate 
with  melody.  Even  the  servants  in  distant  rooms  said  that 
it  seemed  that  an  angel  was  singing.  After  she  ceased,  the 
audience  sat  spellbound  for  a  moment,  and  then  followed 
prolonged  thunders  of  applause,  the  portly  brewer,  Mr. 
Brown  himself,  leading  off  again  and  again. 

4 '  Now  let  the  tenor  sing  alone, ' '  he  said,  for,  though  a 
coarse  man,  he  was  hearty  and  good-natured. 


THE   REVELATION  111 

The  audience  emphatically  echoed  his  wish,  but  Dennis 
as  lecidedly  shook  his  head. 

Then  came  a  cry,  "Miss  Ludolph  and  the  tenor  again"; 
anJ  the  audience  took  it  up  with  a  clamor  that  would  not 
be  denied. 

Christine  looked  inquiringly  at  Dennis,  and  he  replied  in 
a  low  tone,  "You  command  me  this  evening." 

Again  she  thanked  him  with  her  eyes,  and  from  a  music 
stand  near. chose  a  magnificent  duet  from  Mendelssohn,  in 
which  he  must  sing  several  difficult  solos. 

"Act  your  pleasure.  I  am  familiar  with  it,"  he  said, 
smiling  at  the  way  she  had  circumvented  him  in  his  refusal 
to  sing  alone. 

Christine  sat  down  and  played  her  own  accompaniment, 
while  Dennis  stood  at  her  side.  He  determined  to  do  his 
best  and  prove  that  though  he  swept  a  store  he  could  also 
do  something  else.  Many  of  the  strains  were  plaintive,  and 
his  deep  and  unconscious  feeling  for  his  fair  companion  in 
song  gave  to  his  voice  a  depth,  and  at  times  a  pathos,  that 
both  thrilled  and  touched  the  heart,  and  there  were  not  a  few 
wet  eyes  in  the  audience.  Unconsciously  to  himself  and  all 
around,  he  was  singing  his  love;  and  even  Christine,  though 
much  preoccupied  with  her  part,  wondered  at  the  effect 
upon  herself,  and  recognized  the  deep  impression  made 
upon  the  audience. 

As  the  last  notes  died  away  the  sliding- doors  were  closed. 

Dennis  had  achieved  a  greater  success  than  Christine, 
because,  singing  from  the  heart,  he  had  touched  the  heart. 
His  applause  could  be  read  in  moist  eyes  and  expressive 
faces  rather  than  in  noisy  hands.  She  saw  and  understood 
the  result.  A  sad,  disappointed  look  came  into  her  face, 
and  she  said  in  a  low,  plaintive  tone,  as  if  it  were  wrung 
from  her:  "There  must  be  something  wrong  about  me.  I 
fear  I  shall  never  reach  true  art.  I  can  only  win  admira- 
tion, never  touch  the  heart. ' ' 

Dennis  was  about  to  speak  eagerly,  when  they  were  over- 
whelmed by  the  rush  and  confusion  attendant  on  the  break- 


178  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

ing  up  of  the  entertainment.  Part  of  the  older  guests  at 
once  left  for  their  homes,  and  the  rest  stayed  for  supper. 
The  parlors  were  to  be  cleared  as  soon  as  possible  for  danc- 
ing. Christine  was  joined  by  her  father,  .who  had  sat  in  the 
audience,  scarcely  believing  his  eyes,  much  less  his  ears. 
Was  that  the  young  man  who  was  blacking  old  Schwartz's 
boots  the  other  day  ? 

His  daughter  was  overwhelmed  with  compliments,  but 
she  took  them  very  coolly  and  quietly,  for  her  heart  was 
full  of  bitterness.  That  which  her  ambitious  spirit  most 
desired  she  could  not  reach,  and  to  the  degree  that  she 
loved  art  was  her  disappointment  keen.  She  almost  envied 
poor  Dennis,  but  she  knew  not  the  secret  of  his  success; 
nor  did  he,  either,  in  truth.  His  old  manner  returned,  and 
he  busied  himself  in  rapidly  packing  up  everything  that 
he  had  brought.  Mr.  Ludolph,  who  had  received  a  brief 
explanation  from  Christine,  came  and  said,  kindly,  "Why, 
Fleet,  you  have  blossomed  out  strongly  to-day." 

"Indeed,  sir,  I  think  I  have  never  had  a  more  rigorous 
pruning, ' '  was  the  reply. 

When  the  story  had  been  told  Mr.  Ludolph  in  full,  he 
understood  the  remark.  Christine  was  waiting  for  the  crowd 
to  disperse  somewhat,  in  order  to  speak  to  Dennis  also,  for 
her  sense  of  justice  and  her  genuine  admiration  impelled  her 
to  warm  and  sincere  acknowledgment.  But  at  that  moment 
Mr.  Mellen  came  in,  exclaiming,  "Miss  Ludolph,  they  are 
all  waiting  for  you  to  lead  the  dance,  for  to  you  is  given 
this  honor  by  acclamation,  and  I  plead  your  promise  to  be 
my  partner";  and  he  carried  her  off,  she  meaning  to  return 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  supposing  Dennis  would  remain. 

A  moment  after,  light,  airy  music  was  heard  in  the  front 
parlor,  followed  by  the  rhythmical  cadence  of  light  feet  and 
the  rustle  of  silks  like  a  breeze  through  a  forest. 

For  some  reason  as  she  went  away  Dennis's  heart  sank 
within  him.  Keaction  followed  the  strong  excitements  of 
the  day,  and  a  strange  sense  of  weariness  and  despondency 
crept  over  him.  The  gay  music  in  the  other  room  seemed 


THE    REVELATION  179 

plaintive  and  far  away,  and  the  tripping  feet  sounded  like 
the  patter  of  rain  on  autumn  leaves.  The  very  lights  ap- 
peared to  burn  dimmer,  and  the  color  to  fade  out  of  his 
life.  Mechanically  he  packed  up  the  few  remaining  articles, 
to  be  called  for  in  the  morning,  and  then  leaned  heavily 
against  a  pillar,  intending  to  rest  a  moment  before  going 
out  into  the  night  alone. 

Some  one  pushed  back  the  sliding-door  a  little  and  passed 
into  the  room.  Through  the  opening  he  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  gay  scene  within.  Suddenly  Christine  appeared  float- 
ing lightly  through  the  waltz  in  her  gauzy  drapery,  as  if  in 
a  white,  "misty  cloud.  Through  the  narrow  opening  she 
seemed  a  radiant,  living  portrait.  But  her  partner  whirled 
her  out  of  the  line  of  vision.  Thus  in  the  mazes  of  the 
dance  she  kept  appearing  and  disappearing,  flashing  in 
sight  one  moment,  leaving  a  blank  in  the  crowded  room 
the  next. 

"So  it  will  ever  be,  I  suppose,"  he  said  to  himself,  bit- 
terly; "chance  and  stolen  glimpses  my  only  privilege." 

Again  she  appeared,  smiling  archly  on  the  man  whose 
arm  clasped  her  waist. 

A  frown  black  as  night  gathered  on  Dennis's  brow;  then 
a  sudden  pallor  overspread  his  face  to  his  very  lips.  The 
revelation  had  come!  Then  for  the  first  time  he  knew — 
knew  it  as  if  written  in  letters  of  fire  before  him — that  he 
loved  Christine  Ludolph. 

At  first  the  knowledge  stunned  and  bewildered  him,  and 
his  mind  was  a  confused  blur;  then  as  she  appeared  again, 
smiling  upon  and  in  the  embrace  of  another  man,  a  sharp 
sword  seemed  to  pierce  his  heart. 

Dennis  was  no  faint  shadow  of  a  man  who  had  frittered 
away  in  numberless  flirtations  what  little  heart  he  originally 
had.  He  belonged  to  the  male  species,  with  something  of 
the  pristine  vigor  of  the  first  man,  who  said  of  the  one 
woman  of  all  the  world,  "This  is  now  bone  of  my  bones, 
and  flesh,  of  my  flesh";  and  one  whom  he  had  first  seen  but 
a  few  short  months  since  now  seemed  to  belong  to  him  by 


180  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

the  highest  and  divinest  right.  But  could  he  ever  claim 
his  own? 

In  his  morbid,  wearied  state,  there  seemed  a  "great  gulf 
fixed"  between  them.  For  a  moment  he  fairly  felt  faint  and 
sick,  as  if  he  had  received  a  wound.  He  was  startled  by 
hearing  Miss  Winthrop  say  at  his  side:  "Mr.  Fleet,  you 
will  not  leave  yet.  I  have  many  friends  wishing  an  intro- 
duction to  you.  What  is  the  matter  ?  You  look  as  if  you 
were  ill."  " 

At  her  voice  he  flushed  painfully.  He  was  so  vividly 
conscious  of  his  love  himself  that  he  felt  that  every  one 
else  must  be  able  to  see  it,  and  darkness  and  solilude  now 
seemed  a  refuge.  ^Recovering  himself  by  a  great  effort  ho 
said,  "Pardon  me,  I  do — I  am  not  welk— nothing  is  the  mat- 
ter— a  little  rest  and  I  shall  be  myself  again." 

"No  wonder.  You.  have  been  taxed  every  way  beyond 
mortal  endurance,  and  I  think  that  it  is  a  shame  the  way 
you  have  been  treated.  Pray  do  not  judge  Chicago  society 
altogether  by  what  you  have  seen  here.  Let  me  get  you 
some  refreshment,  and  then  I  will  acquaint  you  with  some 
people  who  can  recognize  a  gentleman  when  they  meet 
him." 

"No,  Miss  Winthrop,"  said  Dennis,  courteously  but 
firmly;  "you  are  not  in  your  own  home,  and  by  staying 
I  should  not  be  accepting  your  hospitality.  I  appreciate 
your  kindness  deeply,  and  thank  your  friends  who  have  ex- 
pressed a  willingness  to  make  my  acquaintance.  It  would 
not  be  right  to  stay  longer  in  this  house  than  is  necessary. 
I  do  not  feel  resentful.  I  have  no  room  in  my  memory  for 
Miss  Brown  and  her  actions,  but  at  the  same  time  sslf-respect 
requires  that  I  go  at  once ; ' '  and  he  took  his  hat. 

"I  am  not  surprised  that  you  feel  as  you  do.  But  give 
me  the  pleasure  of  welcoming  you  at  my  own  home  as  soon 
as  possible,"  she  said,  and  gave  her  hand  to  him  in  parting. 

Dennis  took  it  respectfully  and  bowed  low,  saying,  "I 
shall  not  willingly  deny  myself  so  great  a  pleasure."  and 
was  gone. 


THE   REVELATION  181 

Christine  came  in  a  few  moments  later,  and  found  only 
servants  clearing  the  room  for  dancing. 

"Where  is  Mr.  Fleet?"  she  asked. 

"Gone,  mum." 

"Yes, "  said  Miss  Winthrop,  coming  in  at  the  same  time; 
"he  has  gone  now  in  very  truth;  and  I  don't  think  the 
power  exists  that  could  .lead  him  to  darken  these  doors 
again.  I  doubt  if  I  ever  come  myself.  I  never  saw  a 
clearer  instance  of — of — well — shoddy." 

"It  seems  to  me  that  you  Christians  are  as  proud  as  any 
of  us.", 

"Isn't  there  a  difference  between  pride  and  self-respect? 
I  am  satisfied  that  if  Miss  Brown  were  in  trouble,  or  poor, 
Mr.  Fleet  would  be  the  first  to  help  her.  Oh,  Christine,  we 
have  treated  him  shamefully!" 

"You  seem  to  take  a  wonderful  interest  in  this  unknown 
knight  in  rusty  armor."  (Dennis's  dress  was  decidedly 
threadbare.) 

"I  do,"  said  the  impulsive  girl,  frankly,  "because  he  is 
wonderfully  interesting.  What  man  of  all  the  large  audi- 
ence present  to-night  could  have  acted  the  part  he  did?  I 
am  satisfied  that  that  man  is  by  birth  and  education  a  gen- 
tleman. Are  you  ready,  with  your  aristocratic  notions,  to 
recognize  chiefly  Miss  Brown's  title  to  position?  What 
could  her  coat- of -arms  be  but  the  dollar  symbol  and  the 
beer- barrel?" 

' '  Come,  remember  she  is  our  hostess. ' ' 

"You  are  right;  I  should  not  speak  so  here;  but  my 
indignation  gets  the  better  of  me. ' ' 

"Would  you  invite  him  to  your  house?" 

"Certainly.  I  have  asked  him;  and  what  is  more,  he 
has  promised  to  come.  Supposing  that  he  is  poor,  are  not 
many  of  your  noblemen  as  poor  as  poverty  ?  My  parlors 
shall, be  haunted  only  by  men  of  ability  and  character." 

'  *  You  are  not  going  to  shut  out  this  little  heathen, ' '  said 
Christine,  putting  her  arm  about  her  friend. 

"Never!"  said  Miss  Winthrop,  returning  the  embrace 


182  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

with  double  warmth.  Then  she  added,  sadly:  uYou  are 
not  an  unbeliever  from  conviction  and  knowledge,  Chris- 
tine, but  from  training  and  association.  While  I  admire 
and  honor  your  father  as  a  splendid  and  gifted  man,  I  regret 
his  and  your  scepticism  more  deeply  than  you  can  ever 
know. ' ' 

"Well,  Susie,"  said  Christine,  with  a  smile,  "if  they 
shut  out  such  as  you  from  your  Paradise,  I  do  not  wish 
to  go  there." 

"If,  with  my  clear  knowledge  of  the  conditions  of  en- 
trance, I  shut  myself  out,  I  shall  have  no  right  to  complain," 
said  Miss  Winthrop,  sadly. 

But  the  absence  of  two  such  belles  could  not  long  remain 
unnoted;  and,  having  been  discovered,  they  were  pounced 
upon  by  half  a  dozen  young  gentlemen,  clamorous  for  the 
honor  of  their  hands  in  the  "German." 

In  spite  of  herself,  Christine  was  vexed  and  annoyed. 
Dennis  had  seemed,  in  his  obscurity,  a  nice  little  bit  of  per- 
sonal property,  that  she  could  use  and  order  about  as  she 
pleased.  He  had  been  so  subservient  and  eager  to  do  her 
will,  that  she  had  never  thought  of  him  otherwise  than  as 
her  "humble  servant."  But  now  her  own  hand  had  sud- 
denly given  him  the  role  of  a  fine  gentleman.  Christine 
was  too  logical  to  -think  of  continuing  to  order  about  a  man 
who  could  sing  Mendelssohn's  music  as  Dennis  had  done. 

She  congratulated  herself  that  the  arrangement  of  the 
store  was  nearly  completed,  and  'that  only  one  show-room 
was  unfinished. 

"I  suppose  he  will  be  very  dignified  when  we  meet 
again,"  she  thought  to  herself.  "I  should  not  be  at  all 
surprised  if  my  impulsive  little  friend  Susie  loses  her  heart 
to  him.  Well,  I  suppose  she  can  to  any  one  she  chooses. 
As  for  me,  rich  or  poor,  stupid  or  gifted,  the  men  of  this 
land  are  all  alike;"  and  with  a  half -sigh  she  plunged  reso- 
lutely into  the  gayeties  of  the  evening,  as  if  to  escape  from 
herself. 


NIGHT   THOUGHTS  183 


CHAPTEK  XXIY 

NIGHT      THOUGHTS 

DENNIS  passed  out  of  the  heavy,  massive  entrance 
to  the  wealthy  brewer's  mansion  with  a  sense  of 
relief  as  if  escaping  from  prison.  The  duskiness 
and  solitude  of  the  street  seemed  a  grateful  refuge,  and  the 
night  wind  was  to  his  flushed  face  like  a  cool  hand  laid  on 
a  feverish  brow.  He  was  indeed  glad  to  be  alone,  for  his 
was  one  of  those  deep,  earnest  natures  that  cannot  rush  to 
the  world  in  garrulous  confidence  when  disturbed  and  per- 
plexed. There  are  many  sincere  but  shallow  people  who 
must  tell  of  and  talk  away  every  passing  emotion.  Not  of 
the  abundance  of  their  hearts,  for  abundance  there  is  not, 
but  of  the  uppermost  thing  in  their  hearts  their  mouths 
must  speak,  even  though  the  subjects  be  of  the  delicate 
nature  that  would  naturally  be  hidden.  Such  mental  con- 
stitutions are  at  least  healthful.  Concealed  trouble  never 
preys  upon  them  like  the  canker  in  the  bud.  Everything 
comes  to  the  surface  and  is  thrown  off. 

But  at  first  Dennis  scarcely  dared  to  recognize  the  truth 
himself,  and  the  thought  of  telling  even  his  mother  was  re- 
pugnant. For  half  an  hour  he  walked  the  streets  in  a  sort 
of  stupor.  He  was  conscious  only  of  a  heavy,  aching  heart 
and  a  wearied,  confused  brain.  All  the  time,  however,  he 
knew  an  event  had  occurred  that  must  for  good  or  evil 
affect  his  entire  existence;  but  he  shrank  with  nervous 
dread  from  grappling  with  the  problem.  As  the  cold  air 
refreshed  and  revived  him,  his  strong,  practical  mind  took 
up  the  question  almost  without  volition,  and  by  reason  of 


184  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

his  morbid,  wearied  state,  only  the  dark  and  discouraging 
side  was  presented.  The  awakening  to  his  love  was  a  very 
different  thing  to  Dennis,  and  to  the  majority  in  this  troubled 
world,  from  the  blissful  consciousness  of  Adam  when  for  the 
first  time  he  saw  the  fair  being  whom  he  might  woo  at  his 
leisure,  amid  embowering  roses,  without  fear  or  thought  of 
a  rival. 

To  Dennis  the  fact  of  his  love,  so  far  from  promising 
to  be  the  source  of  delightful  romance  and  enchantment, 
clearly  showed  itself  to  be  the  hardest  and  most  practical 
question  of  a  life  full  of  such  questions. 

In  his  strong  and  growing  excitement  he  spoke  to  him- 
self as  to  a  second  person:  "Oh,  I  see  it  all  now.  Poor, 
blind  fool  that  I  was,  to  think  that  by  coveting  and  securing 
every  possible  moment  in  her  presence  I  was  only  learning 
to  love  art!  As  I  saw  her  to-night,  so  radiant  and  beauti- 
ful, and  yet  in  the  embrace  of  another  man,  and  that  man 
evidently  an  ardent  admirer,  what  was  art  to  me  ?  As  well 
might  a  starving  man  seek  to  satisfy  himself  by  wandering 
through  an  old  Greek  temple  as  for  me  to  turn  to  art  alone. 
One  crumb  of  warm,  manifested  love  from  her  would  be 
worth  more  than  all  the  cold,  abstract  beauty  in  the  uni- 
verse. And  yet  what  chance  have  I  ?  What  can  I  hope 
for  more  than  a  passing  thought  and  a  little  kindly,  conde- 
scending interest?  Clerk  and  man-of-all-work  in  a  store, 
poor  and  heavily  burdened,  the  idea  of  my  loving  one  of 
the  most  wealthy,  admired,  and  aristocratic  ladies  in  Chi- 
cago! It  is  all  very  well  in  story-books  for  peasants  to  fall 
in  love  with  princesses,  but  in  practical  Chicago  the  fact  of 
my  attachment  to  Miss  Ludolph  would  be  regarded  as  one 
of  the  richest  jokes  of  the  season,  and  by  Mr.  Ludolph  as 
such  a  proof  of  rusticity  and  folly  as  would  at  once  secure 
my  return  to  pastoral  life. ' ' 

Then  hope  whispered,  "But  you  can  achieve  position  and 
wealth  as  others  have  done,  and  then  can  speak  your  mind 
from  the  standpoint  of  equality." 

But  Dennis  was  in  a  mood  to  see  only  the  hopeless  side 


NIGHT   THOUGHTS  185 

that  night,  and  exclaimed  almost  aloud:  " Nonsense!  Can 
it  be  even  imagined  that  she,  besieged  by  the  most  gifted 
and  rich  of  the  city,  will  wait  for  a  poor  unknown  admirer? 
Mr.  Mellen,  I  understand,  approaches  her  from  every  van- 
tage-ground save  that  of  a  noble  character;  but  in  the  fash- 
ionable world  how  little  thought  is  given  to  this  drawback!" 
and  in  his  perturbation  he  strode  rapidly  and  aimlessly  on, 
finding  some  relief  in  mere  physical  activity. 

Suddenly  his  hasty  steps  ceased,  and  even  in  the  dusk 
of  the  street  his  face  gleamed  out  distinctly,  so  great  was 
its  pallor.  Like  a  ray  of  ligth,  a  passage  from  the  Word 
of  God  revealed  to  him  his  situation  in  a  new  aspect.  It 
seemed  to  him  almost  that  some  one  had  whispered  the 
words  in  his  ear,  so  distinctly  did  they  present  themselves 
— "Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbelievers." 

Slowly  and  painfully  he  said  to  himself,  as  if  recognizing 
the  most  hopeless  barrier  that  had  yet  been  dwelt  upon, 
il Christine  Ludolph  is  an  infidel." 

Not  only  the  voice  of  reason,  and  of  the  practical  world, 
but  also  the  voice  of  God  seemed  to  forbid  his  love;  and 
the  conviction  that  he  must  give  it  all  up  became  a  clear  as 
it  was  painful.  The  poor  fellow  leaned  his  head  against 
the  shaggy  bark  of  an  elm  in  a  shadowy  square  which  the 
street-lamps  could  but  faintly  penetrate.  The  night  wind 
swayed  the  budding  branches  of  the  great  tree,  and  they 
sighed  over  him  as  if  in  sympathy. 

The  struggle  within  his  soul  was  indeed  bitter,  for, 
though  thus  far  he  had  spoken  hopelessly,  he  had  not  been 
altogether  hopeless;  but  now  that  conscience  raised  its  im- 
passable wall  high  as  heaven,  which  he  must  not  break 
through,  his  pain  was  so  great  as  to  almost  unman  him,  and 
such  tears  as  only  men  can  weep  fell  from  his  eyes.  In 
anguish  he  exclaimed,  "That  which  might  have  been  the 
chief  blessing  of  life  has  become  my  greatest  misfortune." 

Above  him  the  gale  caused  two  fraying  limbs  to  appear 
to  moan  in  echo  of  the  suffering  beneath. 

"This  then  must  be  the  end  of  my  prayers  in  her  behalf 


186  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

— my  ardent  hope  and  purpose  to  lead  her  to  the  truth — she 
to  walk  through  honored,  sunny  paths  to  everlasting  shame 
and  night,  and  I  through  dark  and  painful  ways  to  light 
and  peace,  if  in  this  bitter  test  I  remain  faithful.  Surely 
there  is  much  to  try  one's  faith.  And  yet  it  must  be  so  as 
far  as  human  foresight  can  judge." 

Then  a  great  pity  for  her  swelled  his  heart,  for  he  felt 
that  her  case  was  the  saddest  after  all,  and  his  tears  flowed 
faster  than  ever. 

Human  voices  now  startled  him — some  late  revellers 
passing  homeward.  The  tears  and  emotion,  of  which  we 
never  think  of  being  ashamed  when  alone  with  Nature 
and  its  Author,  he  dreaded  to  1  ave  seen  by  his  fellows, 
and  hastily  wiping  his  eyes,  he  slunk  into  the  deeper 
shadow  of  the  tree,  and  they  passed  on.  Then,  an  old 
trait  asserting  itself,  he  condemned  his  own  weakness. 
Stepping  from  the  sheltering  trunk  against  which  he  was 
leaning,  he  stood  strong  and  erect. 

The  winds  were  hushed  as  if  expectant  in  the  branches 
above. 

"Dennis  Fleet,"  he  said,  "you  must  put  your  foot  on 
this  folly  here  and  now. ' ' 

He  bared  his  head  and  looked  upward. 

"O  God,"  he  said,  solemnly,  "if  this  is  contrary  to  Thy 
will— Thy  will  be  done." 

He  paused  a  moment  reverently,  and  then  turned  on  his 
heel  and  strode  resolutely  homeward. 

A  gust  of  wind  crashed  the  branches  overhead  together 
like  the  clash  of  cymbals  in  victory. 

The  early  spring  dawn  was  tingeing  the  eastern  horizon 
before  the  gay  revel  ceased  and  the  mansion  of  the  rich 
brewer  was  darkened.  All  the  long  night,  light,  airy 
music  had  caused  late  passers-by  to  pause  a  moment  to 
listen,  and  to  pity  or  envy  the  throng  within,  as  disposi- 
tion dictated.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  man  who  prided  himself 
on  lavish  and  rather  coarse  hospitality.  A  table  groaning 


N1QHT   THOUGHTS  187 

under  costly  dishes  and  every  variety  of  liquor  was  the 
crowning  feature,  the  blissful  climax  of  all  his  entertain- 
ments; and  society  from  its  highest  circles  furnished  an 
abundance  of  anxious  candidates  for  his  suppers,  who  ate 
and  criticised,  drank  to  and  disparaged,  their  plebeian  host. 

Mrs.  Brown  was  heavy  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
and  with  her  huge  person  draped  with  acres  of  silk,  and 
festooned  with  miles  of  point-lace,  she  waddled  about 
and  smiled  and  nodded  good-naturedly  at  everybody  and 
everything. 

It  was  just  the  place  for  a  fashionable  revel,  where  the 
gross,  repulsive  features  of  coarse  excess  are  veiled  and 
masked  somewhat  by  the  glamour  of  outward  courtesy  and 
good- breeding. 

At  first  Christine  entered  into  the  dance  with  great  zest 
and  a  decided  sense  of  relief.  She  was  disappointed  and 
out  of  sorts  with  herself.  Again  she  had  failed  in  the 
object  of  her  intense  ambition,  and  though  conscious  that, 
through  the  excitement  of  the  occasion,  she  had  sung  bet- 
ter than  ever  before,  yet  she  plainly  saw  in  the  different 
results  of  her  singing  and  that  of  Dennis  Fleet  that  there 
was  a  depth  in  the  human  heart  which  she  could  not  reach. 
She  could  secure  only  admiration,  superficial  applause.  The 
sphere  of  the  true  artist  who  can  touch  and  sway  the  popu- 
lar heart  seemed  beyond  her  ability.  By  voice  or  pencil 
she  had  never  yet  attained  it.  She  had  too  much  mind  to 
mistake  the  character  of  the  admiration  she  excited,  and 
was  far  too  ambitious  to  be  satisfied  with  the  mere  praise 
bestowed  on  a  highly  accomplished  girl.  She  aspired, 
determined,  to  be  among  the  first,  and  to  be  a  second- 
rate  imitator  in  the  world  of  art  was  to  her  the  agony  of 
a  disappointed  life.  And  yet  to  imitate  with  accuracy  and 
skill,  not  with  sympathy,  was  the  only  power  she  had  as 
yet  developed.  She  saw  the  limitations  of  her  success 
more  clearly  than  did  any  one  else,  and  chafed  bitterly 
at  the  invisible  bounds  she  could  not  pass. 

The  excitement  of    the   dance  enabled  her  to  banish 


188  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

thoughts  that  were  both  painful  and  humiliating.  More- 
over, to  a  nature  so  active  and  full  of  physical  vigor,  the 
swift,  grace  motion  was  a  source  of  keen  enjoyment. 

But  when  after  supper  many  of  the  ladies  were  silly,  and 
the  gentlemen  were  either  stupid  or  excited,  according  to  the 
action  of  the  "invisible  spirit  of  wine"  upon  their  several 
constitutions — when  after  many  glasses  of  champagne  Mr. 
Mellen  began  to  effervesce  in  frothy  sentimentality  and  a 
style  of  love-making  simply  nauseating  to  one  of  Christine's 
nature — she  looked  around  for  her  father  in  order  to  escape 
from  the  scenes  that  were  becoming  revolting. 

Though  of  earth  only  in  all  the  sources  of  her  life  and 
hopes,  she  was  not  earthy.  If  her  spirit  could  not  soar  and 
sing  in  the  sky,  it  also  could  not  grovel  in  the  mire  of  gross 
materiality.  Some  little  time,  therefore,  before  the  com- 
pany broke  up,  on  the  plea  of  not  feeling  well  she  lured 
her  father  away  from  his  wine  and  cigars  and  a  knot  of 
gentlemen  who  were  beginning  to  talk  a  little  incoher- 
ently. Making  their  adieux  amid  many  protestations 
against  their  early  departure,  they  drove  homeward. 

41  How  did  you  enjoy  yourself?"  asked  her  father. 

4 '  Very  much  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening,  not  at  all 
in  the  latter  part.  To  sum  up,  I  am  disgusted  with  Mr. 
Mellen  and  these  Browns  in  general,  and  myself  in  par- 
ticular." 

"What  is  the  matter  with  Mr.  Mellen?  I  understand 
that  the  intriguing  mammas  consider  him  the  largest  game 
in  the  city." 

"When  hunting  degenerates  into  the  chase  and  capture 
of  insects,  you  may  style  him  game.  Between  his  cham- 
pagne and  silly  love-making,  he  was  as  bad  as  a  dose  of 
ipecac. ' ' 

Christine  spoke  freely  to  her  father  of  her  admirers,  usu- 
ally making  them  the  themes  of  satire  and  jest. 

"And  what  is  the  trouble  with  our  entertainers  ?" 

"I  am  sorry  to  speak  so  of  any  one  whose  hospitality  I 
have  accepted,  but  unless  it  is  your  wish  I  hope  never  to 


NIGHT   THOUGHTS  189 

accept  it  again.  They  all  smell  of  their  beer.  Everything 
is  so  coarse,  lavish,  and  ostentatious.  They  tell  you  as 
through  a  brazen  trumpet  on  every  side,  'We  are  rich.'  " 

"They  give  magnificent  suppers,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  in 
apology. 

4 'More  correctly,  the  French  cook  they  employ  gives 
them.  I  do  not  object  to  the  nicest  of  suppers,  but  pre- 
fer that  the  Browns  be  not  on  the  carte  de  menu.  From 
the  moment  our  artistic  programme  ended,  and  the  enter- 
tainment fell  into  their  hands,  it  began  to  degenerate  into 
an  orgy.  Nothing  but  the  instinctive  restraints  of  good- 
breeding  prevents  such  occasions  from  ending  in  a  drunken 
revel." 

11  You  are  severe.  Mr.  Brown's  social  effort  is  not  a  bad 
type  of  the  entertainments  that  prevail  in  fashionable  life." 

4 '  Well,  it  may  be  true,  but  they  never  seemed  to  me  so 
lacking  in  good  taste  and  refinement  before.  Wait  till  we 
dispense  choice  viands  and  wines  to  choicer  -spirits  in  our 
own  land,  and  I  will  guarantee  a  marvellously  wide  differ- 
ence. Then  the  eye,  the  ear,  the  mind,  shall  be  feasted,  as 
well  as  the  lower  sense." 

41  Well,  I  do  not  see  why  you  should  be  disgusted  with 
yourself.  I  am  sure  that  you  covered  yourself  with  glory, 
and  were  the  belle  of  the  occasion." 

4 'That  is  no  great  honor,  considering  the  occasion. 
Father,  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  you,  I  envied  your 
man-of-all-work  to-night.  Did  you  not  mark  the  effect 
of  his  singing?" 

44  Yes,  and  felt  it  in  a  way  that  I  cannot  explain  to 
myself.  His  tones  seemed  to  thrill  and  stir  my  very 
heart.  I  have  not  been  so  affected  by  music  for  years. 
At  first  I  thought  it  was  surprise  at  hearing  him  sing  at 
all,  but  I  soon  found  that  it  was  something  in  the  music 
itself." 

44  And  that  something  I  fear  I  can  never  grasp — never 
attain." 

4 'Why,  my  dear,  they  applauded  you  to  the  echo." 


190  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

"I  would  rather  see  one  moist  eye  as  the  tribute  to  my 
singing  than  to  be  deafened  by  noisy  applause.  I  fear  I 
shall  never  reach  high  art.  Men's  hearts  sleep  when  I  do 
my  best." 

"I  think  you  are  slightly  mistaken  there,  judging  from 
your  train  of  admirers,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  turning  off  a 
disagreeable  subject  with  a  jest.  The  shrewd  man  of  the 
world  guessed  the  secret  of  her  failure.  She  herself  must 
feel,  before  she  could  touch  feeling.  But  he  had  systemati- 
cally sought  to  chill  and  benumb  her  nature,  meaning  it  to 
awake  at  just  the  time,  and  under  just  the  circumstances, 
that  should  accord  with  his  controlling  ambition. 

Then  reverting  to  Dennis,  he  continued:  "It  won't  an- 
swer for  Fleet  to  sweep  the  store  any  longer  after  the  part 
he  played  to-night.  Indeed,  I  doubt  if  he  would  be  willing 
to.  Not  only  he,  but  the  world  will  know  that  he  is  capable 
of  better  things.  What  has  occurred  will  awaken  inquiry, 
and  may  soon  secure  him  good  business  offers.  I  do  not 
intend  to  part  readily  with  so  capable  a  young  fellow.  He 
does  well  whatever  is  required,  and  therefore  I  shall  pro- 
mote him  as  fast  as  is  prudent.  I  think  I  can  make  him  of 
great  use  to  me." 

"That  is  another  thing  that  provokes  me,"  said  Chris- 
tine. "Only  yesterday  morning  he  seemed  such  a  useful, 
humble  creature,  and  last  evening  through  my  own  folly  he 
developed  into  a  fine  gentleman;  and  1  shall  have  to  say, 
'By  your  leave,  sir';  'Will  you  please  do  this'  ? — If  I  dare 
ask  anything  at  all. ' ' 

"I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,"  said  her  father.  "My  impres- 
sion is  that  Fleet  has  too  much  good  sense  to  put  on  airs  in 
the  store.  But  I  will  give  him  more  congenial  work;  and 
as  one  of  the  young  gentleman  clerks,  we  can  ask  him  up 
now  and  then  to  sing  with  us.  I  should  much  enjoy  trying 
some  of  our  German  music  with  him. ' ' 


DARKNESS  191 


CHAPTER  XXV 

DARKNESS 

THE  next  morning  Christine  did  not  appear  at  the  late 
breakfast  at  which  her  father  with  contracted  brow 
and  capricious  appetite  sat  alone.  Among  the  other 
unexpected  results  of  the  preceding  day  she  had  taken  a 
very  severe  cold,  and  this,  with  the  reaction  from  fatigue 
and  excitement,  caused  her  to  feel  so  seriously  ill  that  she 
found  it  impossible  to  rise.  Her  father  looked  at  her,  and 
was  alarmed;  for  her  cheeks  were  flushed  with  fever,  her 
head  was  aching  sadly,  and  she  appeared  as  if  threatened 
with  one  of  those  dangerous  diseases  whose  earlier  symp- 
toms are  so  obscure  and  yet  so  much  alike.  She  tried  to 
smile,  but  her  lip  quivered,  and  she  turned  her  face  to  the 
wall. 

The  philosophy  of  Mr.  Ludolph  and  his  daughter  was 
evidently  adapted  to  fair  weather  and  smooth  sailing. 
Sickness,  disease,  and  the  possible  results,  were  things 
that  both  dreaded  more  than  they  ever  confessed  to  each 
other.  It  was  most  natural  that  they  should,  for  only  in 
health  or  life  could  they  enjoy  or  hope  for  anything.  By 
their  own  belief  their  horizon  was  narrowed  down  to  time 
and  earth,  and  they  could  look  for  nothing  beyond.  In 
Mr.  Ludolph' s  imperious,  resolute  nature,  sickness  always 
awakened  anger  as  well  as  anxiety.  It  seemed  like  an 
enemy  threatening  his  dearest  hopes  and  most  cherished 
ambition,  therefore  the  heavy  frown  upon  his  brow  as  he 
pushed  away  the  scarcely  tasted  breakfast. 

To  Christine  the  thought  of  death  was  simply  horrible, 


192  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

and  with  the  whole  strength  of  her  will  she  ever  sought  to 
banish  it.  To  her  it  meant  corruption,  dust,  nothingness. 
With  a  few  drawbacks  she  had  enjoyed  life  abundantly, 
and  she  clung  to  it  with  the  tenacity  of  one  who  believed 
it  was  all.  With  the  exception  of  some  slight  passing  in- 
disposition, both  she  and  her  father  had  been  seldom  ill; 
and  for  a  number  of  years  now  they  had  voyaged  on  over 
smooth,  sunny  seas  of  prosperity. 

Christine's  sudden  prostration  on  the  morning  following 
the  entertainment  was  a  painful  surprise  to  both. 

*'I  will  have  Dr.  Arten  call  at  once,"  he  said,  at  part- 
ing, "and  will  come  up  from  the  store  early  in  the  day 
to  see  you;"  and  Christine  was  left  alone  with  her  French 
maid. 

Her  mind  was  too  clouded  and  disturbed  by  fever  to 
think  coherently,  and  yet  a  vague  sense  of  danger — trouble 
' — oppressed  her,  and  while  she  lay  in  a  half -unconscious  state 
between  sleeping  and  waking,  a  thousand  fantastic  visions 
presented  themselves.  But  in  them  all  the  fiery  Cross  and 
Dennis  Fleet  took  some  part.  At  times  the  Cross  seemed 
to  blaze  and  threaten  to  burn  her  to  a  cinder,  while  he 
stood  by  with  stern,  accusing  face.  The  light  from  the 
Cross  made  him  luminous  also,  and  the  glare  was  so  ter- 
rible that  she  would  start  up  with  a  cry  of  fear.  Again, 
they  would  both  recede  till  in  the  far  distance  they  shone 
like  a  faint  star,  and  then  the  black  darkness  that  gathered 
round  her  was  more  dreadful  than  the  light,  and  with  her 
eyes  closed  she  would  reach  out  her  hot  hands  for  the  light 
to  return.  Once  or  twice  it  shone  upon  her  with  soft,  mel- 
low light,  and  Dennis  stood  pointing  to  it,  pleading  so  ear- 
nestly and  tenderly  that  tears  gathered  in  her  eyes.  Then 
all  was  again  blurred  and  distorted. 

Within  an  hour  after  her  father  left,  she  found  Dr.  Ar- 
ten feeling  her  pulse  and  examining  her  symptoms.  With 
a  great  effort  she  roused  herself,  and,  looking  at  the  doctor 
with  an  eager  inquiring  face,  said:  "Doctor,  tell  me  the 
truth.  What  is  the  matter?" 


DARKLESS  193 

He  tried  to  smile  and  evade  her  question,  but  she  would 
not  let  him. 

* '  Well,  really,  Miss  Ludolph, ' '  he  said,  * '  we  can  hardly 
tell  yet  what  is  the  matter.  You  have  evidently  caught  a 
very  severe  cold,  and  I  hope  that  is  all.  When  I  come  this 
evening  I  may  be  able  to  speak  more  definitely.  In  the 
meantime  I  will  give  you  something  to  soothe  and  reduce 
your  fever!" 

The  French  maid  followed  the  doctor  out,  leaving  the 
door  ajar  in  her  haste,  and  in  an  audible  whisper  said:  "I 
say,  docteur,  is  it  not  ze  smallpox?  Zere  is  so  much 
around.  Tell  me  true,  for  I  must  leave  zis  very  minute." 

"Hush,  you  fool!"  said  the  doctor,  and  they  passed  out 
of  hearing. 

A  sickening  dread  made  Christine's  heart  almost  stand 
still.  When  the  woman  returned  her  mistress  watched  her 
most  narrowly  and  asked,  "What  did  the  doctor  say  to 

you?" 

The  maid  replied  in  French  that  he  had  said  she  must 
be  still  and  not  talk. 

"But  you  asked  him  if  I  had  the  smallpox.  What  did 
he  say  ?' ' 

"Ah,  mademoiselle,  you  make  one  grand  meestake.  I 
ask  for  a  small  box  to  keep  your  medicine  in,  zat  it  make 
no  smell." 

From  the  woman's  lie,  and  from  the  fact  that  she  was  red- 
olent with  camphor,  and  that  she  kept  as  far  away  as  pos- 
sible, near  the  windows,  Christine  gathered  a  most  painful 
confirmation  of  her  fears.  For  a  time  she  lay  almost  para- 
lyzed by  dread. 

Then  as  the  medicine  relieved  her  of  fever  and  unclouded 
her  mind,  thought  and  conscience  awoke  with  terrible  and 
resistless  power.  As  never  before  she  realized  what  cold, 
dark  depths  were  just  beneath  her  gay,  pleasure-loving  life, 
and  how  suddenly  skies  radiant  with  the  richer  promise 
of  the  future  could  become  black  and  threatening.  Never 
had  earthly  life  seemed  so  attractive,  never  had  her  own 

BOB— V— 8 


194  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

prospects  seemed  so  brilliant,  and  her  hopes  of  fame, 
wealth,  and  happiness  in  her  future  German  villa  more 
dazzling,  than  now  when  they  stood  out  against  the  dark 
background  of  her  fears. 

4 'if,  instead  of  going  forward  to  all  this  delight,  I  be- 
come an  object  of  terror  and  loathing  even  before  I  die,  and 
something  that  must  be  hidden  out  of  sight  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble after,  what  conceivable  fate  could  be  worse  ?  That  such 
a  thing  is  possible  proves  this  to  be  a  dreadful  and  defec- 
tive world,  with  all  its  sources  of  pleasure.  Surely  if  there 
were  a  God  he  would  banish  such  horrible  evils. 

"There  is  no  God — there  can't  be  any — at  least  none 
such  as  the  Bible  reveals.  How  often  I  have  said  this  to 
myself !  how  often  my  father  has  said  it  to  me !  and  yet  the 
thought  of  Him  torments  me  often  even  when  well. 

41  Why  does  this  thought  come  so  persistently  now?  I 
settled  it  long  ago,  under  father's  proof,  that  I  did  not 
believe  in  Him  or  the  superstitions  connected  with  His 
name.  Why  doesn't  the  question  stay  settled  ?  Other 
superstitions  do  not  trouble  me.  Why  should  that  Cross 
continually  haunt  me?  Why  should  the  man  who  died 
thereon  have  the  power  to  be  continually  speaking  to  me 
through  His  words  that  I  have  read  ?  I  believe  in  Socrates 
as  much  as  I  do  in  Him,  and  yet  I  recall  the  Greek  sage's 
words  with  an  effort,  and  cannot  escape  from  the  Naza- 
rene's.  All  is  mystery  and  chaos  and  danger.  We  human 
creatures  are  like  frothy  bubbles  that  glisten  and  dance 
for  a  moment  on  a  swift  black  tide  that  seems  flowing  for- 
ever, and  yet  nowhere." 

Then  her  thoughts  recurred  to  Dennis.    .  •• 

11  That  young  Fleet  seemed  to  believe  implicitly  in  what 
he  said  yesterday,  and  he  lives  up  to  what  he  believes.  I 
would  give  the  world  for  his  delusion,  were  it  only  for  its 
comforting  and  sustaining  power  for  this  life.  If  he  were 
very  ill,  he  would  be  imagining  himself  on  the  threshold 
of  some  sort  of  heaven  or  paradise,  and  would  be  calm  and 
perhaps  even  happy,  while  I  am  so  supremely  wretched  I 


DARKNESS  195 

find  that  I  have  nothing — absolutely  nothing  to  sustain  me 
—not  even  the  memory  of  good  deeds.  I  have  not  even 
lived  the  unselfish  life  that  Socrates  recommends,  much 
less  the  holy  life  of  the  Bible.  I  have  pleased  myself.  Well, 
believing  as  I  have  been  taught,  that  seemed  the  most 
sensible  course.  Why  doesn't  it  seem  so  now?" 

Thus  tossed  on  a  sea  of  uncertainty  and  fear,  Christine, 
in  darkness  and  weakness,  grappled  with  those  mighty 
questions  which  only  He  can  put  to  rest  who  said,  "Let  not 
your  heart  be  troubled:  ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also 
in  Me." 

Dennis  walked  resolutely  home.  He  felt  himself  ada- 
mant in  his  stern  resolution.  He  at  least  had  the  death- 
like peace  that  follows  decision.  The  agony  of  conflict  was 
over  for  a  time,  and,  as  he  thought,  forever. 

From  mere  exhaustion  he  slept  heavily,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  with  white  face  and  compressed  lips  entered  on 
his  work.  And  work  it  now  became  indeed;  for  the  old 
glamour  was  all  gone,  and  life  looked  as  practical  and  hard 
as  the  stones  of  the  street.  Even  the  pictures  on  the  walls 
seemed  to  him  but  things  for  sale,  representing  money 
values;  and  money  appeared  the  beginning,  middle,  and 
ending  of  the  world's  creed.  Like  the  unsubstantial  mirage 
had  vanished  the  beautiful,  happy  life  of  the  past  few 
weeks.  Around  him  were  the  rocks  and  sands  of  the  des- 
ert, through  which  he  must  toil  with  weary,  bleeding  feet 
till  he  reached  the  land  watered  by  the  river  of  life.  Eeason 
and  duty,  as  he  believed,  forbade  the  existence  of  this  fool- 
ish passion,  and  he  must  and  would  destroy  it;  but  in  his 
anguish  he  felt  as  if  he  had  resolved  to  torture  himself 
to  death. 

41  And  she  will  never  know  what  I  suffer — never  know 
the  wealth  of  heart  I  have  lavished  upon  her.  I  am  glad 
she  will  not,  for  the  knowledge  of  my  love  would  make 
no  more  impression  on  her  cold,  proud  nature  than  a  drop 
of  warm  summer  rain  falling  on  the  brow  of  yonder  marble 


196  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

statue  of  Diana.  She  would  only  be  amazed  at  my  pre- 
sumption. She  feels  that  she  shines  down  on  me  like  the 
sun,  and  that  I  am  a  poor  little  satellite  that  she  could  blot 
out  altogether  by  causing  her  father  to  turn  me  into  the 
street  again,  which  undoubtedly  would  be  done  should  I 
reveal  my  feelings." 

And  he  was  right. 

"Come!"  said  he  to  himself,  breaking  from  his  painful 
revery,  uno  weakness!  You  have  your  way  to  make  in  the 
world,  and  your  work  to  do.  God  will  help  you,  and  no 
creature  shall  hinder  you;"  and  he  plunged  resolutely  into 
his  duties. 

Mr.  Ludolph  was  late  in  reaching  the  store  that  morning, 
and  Dennis  found  himself  secretly  hoping,  in  spite  of  him- 
self, that  Christine  would  accompany  him.  His  will  and 
heart  were  now  in  distinct  opposition,  and  the  latter  would 
not  obey  orders. 

When  Mr.  Ludolph  appeared,  it  was  with  a  frowning, 
clouded  brow.  Without  a  word  he  passed  into  his  private 
office,  but  seemed  so  restless  and  troubled  in  his  manner 
that  Dennis  felt  something  was  wrong.  Why  should  he 
take  such  an  interest  in  this  man  ?  Why  should  he  care  ? 
The  other  clerks  did  not:  not  one  save  himself  had  noticed 
anything  different.  Poor  Dennis  was  to  learn  that  he  had 
a  disease  of  many  and  varied  symptoms. 

After  something  over  an  hour  had  passed,  Mr.  Ludolph 
started  from  his  desk,  took  his  hat  and  cane  as  with  the 
purpose  of  going  out — a  very  unusual  thing  at  that  time. 
But,  as  he  was  passing  down  the  store,  he  met  Dr.  Arten 
opposite  Dennis's  counter. 

"Well?"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  impatiently. 

"I  will  call  again  this  evening,"  said  the  doctor,  pru- 
dently non-committal.  "Your  daughter  has  caught  a  very 
severe  cold.  I  hope  it  is  nothing  more  than  a  cold,  but  so 
many  troublesome  diseases  commence  with  these  obscure 
symptoms  that  we  have  to  wait  till  further  developments 
reveal  the  true  nature  of  the  case." 


DARKNESS  197 

11  You  doctors  make  no  headway  in  banishing  disease 
from  the  world,"  snarled  Mr.  Ludolph.  "There  is  small- 
pox around,  is  there  not?" 

44  Yes,  I  am  sorry  to  say  there  is  a  great  deal  of  it,  but  if 
you  remember  the  history  of  that  one  disease,  I  think  you 
will  admit  your  remark  to  be  unfair." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  doctor,  but  I  am  anxious,  and  all 
out  of  sorts,  as  I  ever  am  in  sickness"  (when  affecting  him- 
self— he  might  justly  have  added).  "It  seems  such  a  sense- 
less, useless  evil  in  the  world.  The  idea  of  you  Christians 
believing  a  benevolent  Being  rules  the  world,  and  that  He 
permits  smallpox.  Can  it  be  possible  that  my  daughter  has 
contracted  this  loathsome  horror?" 

"Well,  it  is  possible,  but  I  hope  not  at  all  probable. 
We  doctors  are  compelled  to  look  at  the  practical  rather 
than  the  theological  side  of  the  question.  It  is  possible  for 
any  one  to  have  this  disease.  Has  your  daughter  been 
vaccinated?" 

"No!"  growled  Mr.  Ludolph.  "I  don't  believe  in  vac- 
cination. It  is  as  apt  to  vitiate  the  system  as  to  protect  it." 
"I  am  sorry  for  that,"  said  the  doctor,  looking  grave. 

Keen  Mr.  Ludolph  saw  and  read  his  physician's  expres- 
sion accurately.  Seizing  his  hand  he  said,  eagerly:  "Pardon 
me,  doctor;  you  can  understand  a  father's  feelings.  Watch 
this  case  night  and  day.  Spare  no  pains,  and  be  assured 
I  will  regret  no  expense";  and  he  hastened  away  to  his 
daughter's  bedside. 

No  prisoner  at  the  bar  ever  listened  with  more  interest 
than  Dennis.  If  it  had  been  his  own  case  they  were  dis- 
cussing it  would  not  have  touched  him  half  so  nearly. 

But  a  moment  before,  Christine  in  her  pride,  wealth,  and 
beauty  seemed  destined  to  go  through  life  as  in  a  triumphant 
march.  Now  he  saw  her  to  be  a  weak  human  creature, 
threatened  as  sorely  as  the  poorest  and  humblest.  Her 
glorious  beauty,  even  her  life,  might  pass  away  in  Le 
Grand  Hotel  as  surely  as  in  a  tenement  house.  The  very 
thought  thrilled  him  with  fear.  Then  a  great  pity  rushed 


198  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

into  his  soul  like  a  tide,  sweeping  everything  before  it. 
His  stern  resolution  to  stifle  and  trample  upon  his  love 
melted  like  a  snow-wreath,  and  every  interest  of  life  cen. 
tred  in  the  darkened  room  where  Christine  tossed  and 
moaned  in  the  deeper  darkness  of  uncertainty  and  doubt 
The  longing  to  go  to  her  with  comfort  and  help  was  so 
intense  that  it  required  the  utmost  effort  of  reason  and  will 
to  prevent  such  rash  action.  He  trembled  at  himself — at 
the  strength  of  his  feelings— and  saw  that  though  he  might 
control  outward  action  his  heart  had  gone  from  him  beyond 
remedy,  and  that  his  love,  so  long  unrecognized,  was  now 
like  the  principal  source  of  the  Jordan,  that  springs  from 
the  earth  a  full-grown  river,  and  that  he  could  not  help  it. 

Mr.  Ludolph  found  little  comfort  at  his  daughter's  bed- 
side. Sending  her  maid  away,  who  was  glad  to  go,  Chris- 
tine told  what  she  had  overheard.  Smallpox  seemed  in  the 
mind  of  every  one,  but  this  was  not  strange  since  it  was  so 
prevalent  in  the  city. 

4 'Oh,  father,  what  shall  I  do— what  shall  I  do,  if  this 
should  be  the  case  ?  Janette  will  leave  me,  and  there  will 
be  no  one  to  take  care  of  me.  I  know  I  shall  die,  and  I 
might  as  well  as  to  be  made  hideous  by  this  horrible  disease. 
No,  I  would  rather  live,  on  any  terms;  for  to  die  is  to  be 
nothing.  Oh,  father,  are  you  sure  the  Bible  is  all  false? 
There  is  so  much  in  it  to  comfort  the  sick.  If  I  could  only 
believe  in  such  a  life  hereafter  as  Susie  Winthrop  does, 
I  would  as  soon  die  as  not." 

"No,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  firmly,  "your  only  chance  is 
to  get  well.  There  is  no  use  in  deceiving  ourselves.  I  have 
secured  the  services  of  the  most  skilful  of  physicians,  and 
will  see  that  you  have  every  attention.  So  try  to  be  as  calm 
as  possible,  and  co-operate  with  every  effort  to  baffle  and 
banish  disease.  After  all  it  may  be  nothing  more  than  a 
severe  cold." 

So  then  in  very  truth  this  world  was  all.  In  bitterness 
and  dread  she  realized  how  slight  was  her  hold  upon  it. 
To  her  healthful  body  pain  was  a  rare  experience,  but  now 


DARKNESS  199 

her  head  and  every  bone  ached,  and  the  slightest  movement 
caused  increased  suffering.  But  her  mental  trouble  was  by 
far  the  greatest.  Often  she  murmured  to  herself,  "Oh,  that 
I  had  been  trained  to  the  grossest  superstitions,  so  that  I 
might  not  look  down  into  this  black  bottomless  gulf  that 
unbelief  opens  at  my  feet!"  and  she  tossed  and  moaned 
most  piteously. 

Mr.  Ludolph  returned  to  the  store  in  an  exceedingly 
worried  and  anxious  state.  As  he  entered  he  caught  Den- 
nis's eager,  questioning  gaze,  and  a  thought  struck  him: 
"Perhaps  this  young  fellow,  through  his  mission  school, 
may  know  of  some  good,  trustworthy  woman  who  would 
act  as  nurse";  and  coming  to  Dennis  he  explained  the  situ- 
ation, and  then  asked  if  he  knew  of  any  one,  or  could  find 
a  suitable  person. 

Dennis  listened  eagerly,  thought  a  moment,  and  then 
said,  with  a  flushed  face  and  in  a  low  tone:  "I  think  my 
mother  would  be  willing  to  come.  She  has  had  the  small- 
pox and  would  not  be  afraid." 

"But  would  she  be  willing?" 

"I  think  I  could  persuade  her,"  said  Dennis. 

Mr.  Ludolph  thought  a  moment,  then  said:  "I  think  she 
would  be  the  one  of  all  others,  for  she  must  be  very  much 
of  a  lady,  and  I  would  not  like  to  put  my  daughter  in 
charge  of  a  common,  coarse  woman.  You  may  rest  assured 
that  I  would  reward  her  liberally." 

"She  would  not  come  for  money,  sir.'* 

"What  then?" 

Dennis  flushed  how  more  deeply  than  before.  He  had 
been  speaking  for  his  mother  from  his  own  point  of  view, 
and  now  he  hardly  knew  what  to  say,  for  he  was  not  good 
at  evasion.  But  he  told  the  truth,  if  not  all  the  truth. 
"We  feel  very  grateful  to  you  for  the  means  of  support, 
and  a  chance  in  life  when  the  world  was  very  dark.  You 
have  since  promoted  me — " 

"Nonsense!"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  somewhat  touched, 
though;  "you  have  earned  every  dollar  you  have  received, 


200  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

and  your  coming  has  been  of  advantage  to  me  also.  But  if 
your  mother  will  meet  this  need,  should  it  occur,  neither 
of  you  will  have  cause  to  regret  it";  and  he  passed  on  to 
his  office,  but  soon  after  went  away  again  and  did  not 
return  that  day. 

To  Dennis  the  hours  dragged  on  like  years,  full  of  sus- 
pense and  mental  tumult.  At  times  he  would  bow  his  head 
behind  his  counter,  and  pray  in  tearful  fervor  for  the  object 
of  his  constant  thought.  The  day  was  rainy,  and  the  store 
empty  of  customers,  for  which  he  was  most  thankful,  as  he 
would  have  made  the  poorest  of  salesmen.  At  last  the  hour 
for  closing  arrived,  and  he  was  left  to  himself.  In  the  soli- 
tude of  his  own  room  he  once  more  looked  the  situation 
fairly  in  the  face.  With  his  head  bowed  in  his  hands  he 
reflected:  "Last  night  I  thought  to  tear  this  love  from  my 
heart,  but  to-night  I  find  that  this  would  be  to  tear  out  my 
heart  itself.  I  cannot  do  it.  It  is  my  strongest  conviction 
that  I  can  no  more  stop  loving  her  than  I  can  stop  living. 
Unconsciously  this  love  has  grown  until  now  it  is  my  mas- 
ter, and  it  is  folly  to  make  any  more  resolves,  only  to  be  as 
weak  as  water  when  I  least  expect  it.  What  shall  I  do  ?" 

Motionless,  unconscious  of  the  lapse  of  time,  he  remained 
hour  after  hour  absorbed  in  painful  thought.  Circumstances, 
reason,"  the  Bible,  all  seemed  to  frown  upon  his  love;  but, 
though  it  appeared  to  be  hopeless,  his  whole  nature  revolted 
against  the  idea  of  its  being  wrong. 

"It  cannot  be  wrong  to  love,  purely  and  unselfishly," 
he  muttered.  "Such  love  as  mine  seems  to  carry  its  own 
conviction  of  right  with  it — an  inner  consciousness  that 
seems  so  strong  and  certain  as  to  be  beyond  argument — 
beyond  everything;  and  yet  if  God's  Word  is  against  it 
I  must  be  wrong,  and  my  heart  is  misleading  me." 

Again  in  unbroken  silence  an  hour  passed  away.  Then 
the  thought  struck  him:  "It  is  not  contrary  to  God's  action! 
He  so  loved  the  world — unbelievers  and  all — as  to  give  His 
best  and  dearest!  Can  it  be  wrong  to  be  God-like?" 

"It  is  not  wise,  it  is  not  safe,"  prudence  whispered,  "to 


DARKNESS  201 

give  a  worldly,  unbelieving  spirit  the  power  to  influence 
you  that  she  will  have  who  is  first  in  your  heart.  What 
true  congeniality  can  there  be?  What  fellowship  hath 
righteousness  with  unrighteousness  ?  or  what  part  hath  he 
that  believeth  with  an  infidel  ?  As  the  most  intimate  friend 
and  companion  in  life,  you  should  seek  one  who  truly  can 
be  one  with  you  in  all  things,  and  most  assuredly  so  in  this 
vital  respect.'* 

44 Ah,"  thought  Dennis,  "that  would  have  been  very 
good  advice  to  give  awhile  ago.  If  from  the  first  I  could 
have  understood  my  feelings  and  danger,  I  might  have 
steeled  my  heart  against  the  influences  that  have  brought 
me  to  this.  But  the  mischief  is  done.  The  words  that 
now,  in  spite  of  myself,  continually  run  in  my  mind,  are, 
4  What  God  hath  joined  together  let  not  man  put  asunder.' 
It  seems  as  if  some  resistless  power  had  joined  my  soul  to 
hers,  and  I  find  no  strength  within  myself  to  break  the 
bond.  I  am  not  usually  irresolute;  I  think  I  have  princi- 
ple; and  yet  I  feel  that  I  should  not  dare  make  the  most 
solemn  vow  against  this  love.  I  should  be  all  the  more 
weak  because  conscience  does  not  condemn  me.  It  seems  to 
have  a  light  that  reason  and  knowledge  know  not  of.  And 
yet  I  wish  I  could  be  more  sure.  I  wish  I  could  say  to  my- 
self, I  may  be  loving  hopelessly,  but  not  sinfully.  I  would 
take  the  risk.  Indeed  I  cannot  help  taking  it.  Oh,  that 
I  could  find  light,  clear  and  unmistakable!" 

He  rose,  turned  up  his  light,  and  opened  the  Pauline 
precepts.  These  words  struck  his  eyes,  '*  Art  thou  bound 
unto  a  wife?  Seek  not  to  be  loosed."  Then,  above,  the 
words,  "How  knowest  thou,  O  man,  whether  thou  shalt 
save  thy  wife,  even  though  she  be  an  unbeliever?" 

14  Am  1  not  bound — bound  by  that  which  is  God's  link 
in  the  chain  ?  It  does  not  seem  as  if  the  legal  contract  could 
change  or  strengthen  my  feelings  materially,  and  while 
honoring  the  inviolable  rite  of  marriage,  which  is  God's 
law  and  society's  safety,  I  know  that  nothing  can  more 
surely  bind  me  to  her,  so  that  the  spirit,  the  vital  part  of 


202  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

the  passage,  applies  to  me.  Then  if  through  this  love  I 
could  save  her — if  by  prayer  and  effort  I  could  bring  her 
feet  into  the  paths  of  life — I  should  feel  repaid  for  all  that 
I  could  possibly  suffer.  She  may  slight  my  human  love 
with  its  human  consummation,  but  God  will  not  let  a  life  of 
prayer  and  true  love  be  wasted,  and  she  may  learn  here,  or 
know  hereafter,  that  though  the  world  laid  many  rich  gifts 
at  her  feet  I  brought  the  best  of  all." 

He  looked  out,  and  saw  that  the  early  spring  dawn  was 
tingeing  the  horizon. 

41 A  good  omen,"  he  said  aloud.  " Perhaps  the  night  of 
this  trouble  is  past,  and  the  dawn  is  coming.  I  am  con- 
vinced that  it  is  not  wrong;  and  I  am  resolved  to  make  the 
almost  desperate  attempt.  A  mysterious  hope,  coming  from 
I  know  not  where  or  what,  seems  to  beckon  and  encourage 
me  forward." 

Dennis  was  young. 


MISS   LUDOLPH   COMMITS   A    THEFT  203 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

MISS  LUDOLPH   COMMITS  A  THEFT 

ME.  LUDOLPH  on  his  return  found  Christine  suffer- 
ing  from  a  nervous  horror  of  the  smallpox.  From 
the  indiscreet  and  callous  maid,  intent  on  her  own 
safety,  and  preparing  to  palliate  the  cowardice  of  her  flight 
should  her  fears  prove  true,  Christine  learned  that  the  city 
was  full  of  this  loathsome  disease,  and  her  feelings  were 
harrowed  by  exaggerated  instances  of  its  virulent  and  con- 
tagious character. 

"But  you  will  surely  stay  with  me,"  pleaded  Christine. 

"Mademoiselle  could  not  expect  zat." 

"Heartless!"  muttered  Christine.  Then  she  said: 
"Won't  you  go  for  Susie  Winthrop?  Oh,  how  I  would 
like  to  see  her  now!" 

"She  vould  not  come;  no  von  vould  come  who  knew." 

Christine  wrung  her  hands  and  cried,  "Oh,  I  shall  die 
alone  and  deserted  of  all!" 

"No,  you  shall  not,"  said  her  father,  entering  at  that 
moment;  "so  do  not  give  way,  my  dear. — Leave  the 
room,  stupid!"  (to  the  maid,  who  again  gladly  escaped, 
resolving  not  to  re-enter  till  the  case  was  decided).  "I  have 
secured  the  best  of  physicians,  and  the  best  of  nurses,  and 
by  to-night  or  to-morrow  morning  we  shall  know  about 
what  to  expect.  I  cannot  help  hoping  still  that  it  is  only 
a  severe  cold."  And  he  told  her  of  Dennis's  offer  of  his 
mother's  services. 

"I  am  sure  1  should  like  her,  for  somehow  I  picture 
to  myself  a  kind,  motherly  person.  What  useful  creatures 


204  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

those  Fleets  are!  They  are  on  hand  in  emergencies  when 
one  so  needs  help.  It  seemed  very  nice  to  have  young 
Fleet  my  humble  servant;  but  really,  father,  he  deserves 
promotion. ' ' 

"He  shall  have  it,  and  I  doubt  not  will  be  just  as  ready 
to  do  your  bidding  as  ever.  It  is  only  commonplace  people 
whose  heads  are  turned  by  a  little  prosperity.  Fleet  knew 
he  was  a  gentleman  before  he  came  to  the  store. ' ' 

"Father,  if  I  should  have  the  smallpox  and  live,  would 
my  beaut — would  I  become  a  fright?" 

"Not  necessarily.  Let  us  hope  for  the  best.  Make  the 
most  of  the  world,  and  never  endure  evils  till  they  come, 
are  my  maxims.  Half  of  suffering  is  anticipation  of  possi- 
ble or  probable  evil." 

"Father,"  said  Christine,  abruptly,  "I  believe  you  are 
right,  you  must  be  right,  and  have  given  me  the  best  com- 
fort and  hope  that  truthfully  can  be  given.  But  this  is  a 
strange,  cruel  world.  We  seem  the  sport  of  circumstances, 
the  victims  of  hard,  remorseless  laws.  One  bad  person  can 
frightfully  injure  another  person"  (a  spasm  distorted  her 
father's  face).  "What  accidents  may  occur!  Worst  of  all 
are  those  horrible,  subtle,  contagious  diseases  which  none 
can  see  or  guard  against!  Then  to  suffer,  die,  corrupt — 
faugh!  To  what  a  disgusting  end,  to  what  a  lame  and 
impotent  conclusion,  does  the  noble  creature,  man,  come! 
My  whole  nature  revolts  at  it.  For  instance,  here  am  I  a 
young  girl,  capable  of  the  highest  enjoyment,  with  every- 
thing to  live  for,  and  lured  forward  by  the  highest  hopes 
and  expectations;  and  yet,  in  spite  of  all  the  safeguards  you 
can  place  around  me,  my  path  is  in  the  midst  of  dangers, 
and  now  perhaps  I  am  to  be  rendered  hideous,  if  not  killed 
outright,  by  a  disease  the  very  thought  of  which  fills  me 
with  loathing.  W  hat  I  fear  has  happened,  and  may  happen 
again.  And  what  compensation  is  there  for  it  all  ? — what 
can  enable  one  to  bear  it  all?  Oh,  that  I  could  believe 
in  a  God  and  a  future  happier  life!" 

"And  what  kind  of  a  God  would  He  be  who,  having  the 


MISS   LUDOLPH   COMMITS   A    THEFT  205 

power  to  prevent,  permits,  or  orders,  as  the  Bible  teaches, 
all  these  evils  ?  I  am  a  man  of  the  world,  and  pretend  to 
nothing  saint- like  or  chivalric,  but  do  you  think  I  am  capa- 
ble of  going  to  Mr.  Winthrop  and  striking  down  his  daugh- 
ter Susie  with  a  loathsome  disease  ?  And  yet  if  a  minister 
or  priest  should  come  here  he  would  begin  to  talk  about  the 
mysterious  providence,  and  submission  to  God's  will.  If  I 
am  to  have  a  God,  I  want  one  at  least  better  than  my- 
self. " 

"You  must  be  right,'7  said  Christine,  with  a  weary  moan. 
11  There  is  no  God,  and  if  there  were,  in  view  of  what  you 
say,  I  could  only  hate  and  fear  Him.  flow  chaotic  the 
world  is!  But  it  is  hard."  After  a  moment  she  added, 
shudderingly :  "It  is  horrible.  I  did  not  think  of  these 
things  when  well." 

"Get  well  and  forget  them  again,  my  dear.  It  is  the 
best  you  can  do." 

"If  I  get  well,"  said  Christine,  almost  fiercely,  "I  shall 
get  the  most  I  can  out  of  life,  cost  what  it  may;"  and  she 
turned  her  face  to  the  wall. 

A  logical  result  of  his  teaching,  but  for  some  reason  ifc 
awakened  in  Mr.  Ludolph  a  vague  foreboding. 

The  hours  dragged  on,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  the  hard- 
driven  physician  appeared,  examined  his  patient,  and  seemed 
relieved. 

"If  there  is  no  change  for  the  worse,"  he  said,  cheerily, 
"if  no  new  symptoms  develop  by  to-morrow,  I  can  pro- 
nounce this  merely  a  severe  cold,  caused  by  the  state  of 
the  system  and  too  sudden  check  of  perspiration;"  and  the 
doctor  gave  and  opiate  and  bowed  himself  out. 

Long  and  heavily  Christine  slept.  The  night  that  Den- 
nis filled  with  agonizing  prayer  and  thought  was  to  her  a 
blank.  While  he  in  his  strong  Christian  love  brought 
heaven  nearer  to  her,  while  he  resolved  on  that  which 
would  give  her  a  chance  for  life,  happy  life,  here  and 
hereafter,  she  was  utterly  unconscious.  No  vision  or  pre- 
sentiment of  good,  like  a  struggling  ray  of  light,  found 


206  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

access  to  her  darkened  spirit.  So  heavy  was  the  stupor 
induced  by  the  opiate,  that  her  sleep  seemed  like  the  blank 
she  so  feared,  when  her  brilliant,  ambitious  life  should  end 
in  nothingness. 

So  I  supopse  God's  love  meditates  good,  and  resolves 
on  life  and  joy  for  us,  while  our  hearts  are  sleeping,  dead 
to  Him,  benumbed  and  paralyzed  so  that  only  His  love  can 
awaken  them.  Like  a  vague  yet  hope- inspiring  dream,  this 
truth  often  enters  the  minds  of  those  who  are  wrapped  in 
the  spiritual  lethargy  that  may  end  in  death.  God  wakes, 
watches,  loves,  and  purposes  good  for  them.  When  we  are 
most  unconscious,  perhaps  another  effect  for  our  salvation 
has  been  resolved  upon  in  the  councils  of  heaven. 

But  ambition  more  than  love,  earthly  hopes  rather  than 
heavenly,  kept  Mr.  Ludolph  an  anxious  watcher  at  Chris- 
tine's side  that  night.  A  smile  of  satisfaction  illumined  his 
somewhat  haggard  face  as  he  saw  the  fever  pass  away  and 
the  dew  of  natural  moisture  come  out  on  Christine's  brow, 
but  there  was  no  thankful  glance  upward.  Immunity  from 
loathsome  disease  was  due  only  to  chance  and  the  phy- 
sician's skill,  by  his  creed. 

The  sun  was  shining  brightly  when  Christine  awoke  and 
by  a  faint  call  startled  her  father  from  a  doze  in  the  great 
armchair. 

4 'How  do  you  feel,  my  dear?"  he  asked. 

She  languidly  rubbed  her  heavy  eyes,  and  said  she 
thought  she  was  better — she  felt  no  pain.  The  opiate  had 
not  yet  lost  its  effect.  But  soon  she  greatly  revived,  and 
when  the  doctor  came  he  found  her  decidedly  better,  and 
concluded  that  she  was  merely  suffering  from  a  severe  cold, 
and  would  soon  regain  her  usual  health. 

Father  and  daughter  were  greatly  relieved,  and  their 
spirits  rose. 

"I  really  feel  as  if  I  ought  to  thank  somebody,"  said 
Christine.  "I  am  not  going  to  thank  the  doctor,  for  I 
know  what  a  bill  is  coming,  so  I  will  thank  you.  It  was 
very  kind  of  you  to  sit  up  the  long  night  with  me." 


MISS   LUDOLPH   COMMITS    A    THEFT  207 

Even  Mr.  Ludolph  had  to  remember  that  he  had  in  his 
anxiety  thought  as  much  of  himself  as  of  her. 

"Another  lease  of  life,"  said  Christine,  dreamily  looking 
into  the  future;  "and,  as  I  said  last  night,  I  mean  to  make 
the  most  of  it." 

"lean  best  guide  you  in  doing  that,"  said  her  father, 
looking  into  his  daughter's  face  with  keen  scrutiny. 

"I  believe  you,  and  intend  to  give  you  the  chance. 
When  can  we  leave  this  detested  land,  this  city  of  shops 
and  speculators  ?  To  think  that  I,  Christine  Ludolph,  am 
sick,  idle,  and  perhaps  have  endangered  all  by  reason  of 
foolish  exposure  in  a  brewer's  tawdry,  money-splashed 
house!  Come,  father  when  is  the  next  scene  in  the  brief 
drama  to  open  ?  I  am  impatient  to  go  home  to  our  beloved 
Germany  and  enter  on  real  life." 

"Well,  my  dear,  if  all  goes  well,  we  can  enter  on  our 
true  career  a  year  from  next  fall — a  short  year  and  a  half. 
Do  not  .blame  the  delay,  for  it  will  enable  us  to  live  in  Ger- 
many in  almost  royal  style.  I  never  was  making  money  so 
rapidly  as  now.  I  have  invested  in  that  which  cannot  depre- 
ciate, and  thus  far  has  advanced  beyond  belief — buildings 
in  the  business  part  of  the  city.  Rents  are  paying  me  from 
twenty  to  a  hundred  per  cent.  At  the  same  time  I  could 
sell  out  in  a  month.  So  you  see  you  have  only  to  co-oper- 
ate with  me — to  preserve  health  and  strength — to  enjoy  all 
that  money  can  insure;  and  money  can  buy  almost  every- 
thing." 

Christine's  eyes  sparkled  as  the  future  opened  before 
her,  and  she  said,  with  emphasis,  "If  /  could  preserve 
health  and  strength,  I  would  live  a  thousand  years." 

"You  can  do  much  toward  it.  Every  chance  is  in  favor 
of  prudence  and  wise  action;"  and,  much  relieved,  her 
father  went  to  the  store. 

Business  had  accumulated,  and  in  complete  absorption 
he  gave  himself  to  it.  With  an  anxiety  beyond  expres- 
sion, Dennis,  flushed  and  trembling,  ventured  to  approach. 
Merely  glancing  to  see  who  it  was,  Mr.  Ludolph,  with  his 


208  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

head  bent  over  his  writing,  said,  "Miss  Ludolph  is  better — 
no  fear  of  smallpox,  I  think — you  need  not  write  to  your 
mother — greatly  obliged. ' ' 

It  was  well  for  Dennis  that  his  employer  did  not  look 
up.  The  open  face  of  Mr.  Ludolph's  clerk  expressed  more 
than  friendly  interest  in  his  daughter's  health.  The  young 
man  went  to  his  tasks  with  a  mountain  of  fear  lifted  from 
his  heart. 

But  the  thought  of  the  beloved  one  lying  alone  and  sick 
at  the  hotel  seemed  very  pathetic  to  him.  Love  filled  his 
heart  with  more  sympathy  for  Christine  upon  her  luxurious 
couch,  in  rapid  convalescence,  than  for  all  the  hopeless  suf- 
fering of  Chicago.  What  could  he  do  for  her  ?  She  seemed 
so  far  off,  so  high  and  distant,  that  he  could  not  reach  her. 
If  he  ventured  to  send  anything,  prudence  whispered  that 
she  would  regard  it  as  an  impertinence.  But  love  can 
climb  every  steep  place,  and  prudence  is  not  its  grand- 
vizier.  , 

Going  by  a  fruit- store  in  the  afternoon  he  saw  some  fine 
strawberries,  the  first  in  from  the  South.  He  bought  a 
basket,  decorated  it  with  German  ivy  obtained  at  a  flower- 
stand,  and  spirited  it  upstairs  to  his  room  as  if  it  were  the 
most  dangerous  of  contraband.  In  a  disguised  hand  he  wrote 
on  a  card,  "For  Miss  Ludolph."  Calling  Ernst,  who  had 
little  to  do  at  that  hour  of  the  day,  he  said:  "Ernst,  my 
boy,  take  this  parcel  to  Le  Grand  Hotel,  and  say  it  is  for 
Miss  Christine  Ludolph.  Tell  them  to  send  it  right  up, 
but  on  no  account — remember,  on  no  account — tell  any  one 
who  sent  it.  Carry  it  carefully  in  just  this  manner. ' ' 

Ernst  was  soon  at  his  destination,  eager  to  do  anything 
for  his  friend. 

After  all,  the  day  had  proved  a  long  one  for  Christine. 
Unaccustomed  to  the  restraints  of  sickness,  she  found  the 
enforced  inaction  very  wearisome.  Mind  and  body  both 
seemed  weak.  The  sources  of  chief  enjoyment  when  well 
seemed  powerless  to  contribute  much  now.  In  silken  robe 
she  reclined  in  an  arm-chair,  or  languidly  sauntered  about 


MISS   LUDOLPH    COMMITS   A    THEFT  209 

the  room.  She  took  up  a  book  only  to  throw  it  down  again. 
Her  pencil  fared  no  better.  Ennui  gave  to  her  fair  young 
face  the  expression  of  one  who  had  tried  the  world  for  a 
century  and  found  it  wanting.  She  was  leaning  her  elbow 
on  the  window-sill,  gazing  vacantly  into  the  street,  when 
Ernst  appeared. 

"Janette,"  she  said,  suddenly,  "do  you  see  that  boy? 
He  is  employed  at  the  store.  Go  bring  him  up  here;  I 
want  him;"  and  with  more  animation  than  she  had  shown 
that  day  she  got  out  materials  for  a  sketch. 

"I  must  get  that  boy's  face,"  she  said,  "before  good  liv- 
ing destroys  all  his  artistic  merit. " 

Ernst  was  unwilling  to  come,  but  the  maid  almost  dragged 
him  up. 

"What  have  you  got  there?"  asked  Miss  Ludolph,  with 
a  reassuring  smile. 

"Something  for  Miss  Ludolph,"  stammered  the  boy, 
looking  very  much  embarrassed. 

Christine  carefully  opened  the  parcel  and  then  ex- 
claimed with  delight:  "Strawberries,  as  I  live!  the  very 
ambrosia  of  the  gods.  Papa  sent  them,  did  he  not?" 

"No,"  said  the  boy,   hanging  his  head. 

"Who  did,  then?"  said  Christine,  looking  at  him 
keenly. 

He  shuffled  uneasily,  but  made  no  answer. 

"Come,  I  insist  on  knowing,"  she  cried,  her  wilful 
spirit  and  curiosity  both  aroused. 

The  boy  was  pale  and  frightened,  and  she  was  mentally 
taking  notes  of  his  face.  But  he  said,  doggedly,  "I  can't 
tell." 

"But  I  say  you  must.  Don't  you  know  that  I  am  Miss 
Ludolph?" 

"I  don't  care  what  you  do  to  me,"  said  the  little  fellow, 
beginning  to  cry,  "I  won't  tell." 

"Why  won't  you  tell,  my  boy?"  said  Christine,  cun- 
ningly, in  a  wheedling  tone  of  voice. 

Before  he  knew  it,  the  frightened,  bewildered  boy  fell 


210  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

into  the  trap,  and  he  sobbed,  "Because  Mr.  Fleet  told  me 
not  to,  and  I  wouldn't  disobey  him  to  save  my  life." 

A  look  of  surprise,  and  then  a  broad  smile,  stole  over 
the  young  girl's  face — at  the  gift,  the  messenger,  and  at 
him  who  sent  it.  It  was  indeed  a  fresh  and  unexpected 
little  episode,  breaking  the  monotony  of  the  day — as  fresh 
and  pleasing  to  her  as  one  of  the  luscious  berries  so  grate- 
ful to  her  parched  mouth. 

"You  need  not  tell  me,"  she  said,  soothingly,  "if  Mr 
Fleet  told  you  not  to." 

The  boy  saw  the  smile,  and  in  a  moment  realized  that  he 
had  been  tricked  out  of  the  forbidden  knowledge. 

His  little  face  glowed  with  honest  indignation,  and  look- 
ing straight  at  Miss  Ludolph,  with  his  great  eyes  flashing 
through  the  tears,  he  said,  "You  stole  that  from  me." 

Even  she  colored  a  little  \and  bit  her  lip  under  the  mer- 
ited charge.  But  all  this  made  him  all  the  more  interesting 
as  an  art  study,  and  she  was  now  sketching  away  rapidly. 
She  coolly  replied,  however,  "You  don't  know  the  world 
very  well  yet,  my  little  man. ' ' 

The  boy  said  nothing,  but  stood  regarding  her  with  his 
unnaturally  large  eyes  filled  with  anger,  reproach,  and 
wonder. 

"Oh,"  thought  Christine,  "if  I  could  only  paint  that 
expression!" 

"You  seem  a  great  friend  of  Mr.  Fleet,"  she  said,  study- 
ing and  sketching  him  as  if  he  had  been  an  inanimate 
object. 

The  boy  made  no  answer. 

"Perhaps  you  do  not  know  that  I  am  a  friend — friendly, " 
she  added,  correcting  herself,  "to  Mr.  Fleet  also." 

"Mr.  Fleet  never  likes  to  have  his  friends  do  wrong," 
said  the  boy,  doubtingly. 

Again  she  colored  a  little,  for  Ernst's  pure  and  reproach- 
ful face  made  her  feel  that  she  had  done  a  mean  thing,  but 
she  laughed  said:  "You  see  I  am  not  in  his  mission  class, 
and  have  never  had  the  instruction  that  you  have.  But, 


MISS   LUDOLPH   COMMITS    A    THEFT  211 

after  all,  why  do  you  think  Mr.  Fleet  better  than  other 
people?" 

"By  what  he  does." 

"That  is  a  fair  test;  what  has  he  done  ?" 

"He  saved  us  all  from  starving,  and  worse  than  starving." 

Then  with  feminine  tact  she  drew  from  him  his  story, 
and  it  was  told  with  deep  feeling  and  the  natural  pathos  of 
childhood,  and  his  gratitude  caused  him  to  dwell  with  a 
simple  eloquence  on  the  part  Dennis  had  taken,  while  his 
rich  and  loved  German  accent  made  it  all  the  more  inter- 
esting to  Christine.  She  dropped  her  pencil,  and,  when  he 
finished,  her  eyes,  that  were  seldom  moistened  by  the  dew 
of  sympathy,  were  wet. 

"Good- by,  my  child,"  she  said,  in  a  voice  so  kind  and 
sweet  that  it  seemed  as  if  another  person  had  spoken. 
"You  shall  come  again,  and  then  I  shall  finish  my  sketch. 
When  I  get  well  I  shall  go  to  see  your  father's  picture. 
Do  not  be  afraid;  neither  you  nor  Mr.  Fleet  will  fare  the 
worse  for  the  strawberries,  and  you  may  tell  him  that  they 
have  done  me  much  good." 

When  Dennis,  wondering  at  Ernst's  long  absence,  heard 
from  him  his  story,  his  mind  was  in  a  strange  tumult,  and 
yet  the  result  of  his  effort  seemed  favorable.  But  he 
learned  more  fully  than  ever  that  Christine  was  not  per- 
fect, and  that  her  faultless  beauty  and  taste  were  but  the 
fair  mask  of  a  deformed  spirit.  But  he  dwelt  in  hope  on 
the  feeling  she  had  shown  at  Ernst's  story. 

"She  seemed  to  have  two  hearts,"  said  the  boy — "a 
good,  kind  one  way  inside  the  cold,  hard  outside  one. ' ' 

"That  is  about  the  truth,"  thought  Dennis.  "Good- 
night, Ernst.  I  don't  blame  you,  my  boy,  for  you  did 
the  best  you  could." 

He  had  done  better  than  Dennis  knew. 


212  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

A  MISERABLE  TRIUMPH 

AFTER  Ernst's  departure  Christine  reclined  wearily  in 
her  chair,  quite  exhausted  by  even  the  slight  effort 
she  had  made,  but  her  thoughts  were  busy. 
"What  a  unique  character  that  Dennis  Fleet  is!  And 
yet,  in  view  of  what  he  believes  and  professes,  he  is  both 
natural  and  consistent.  He  seems  humble  only  in  station, 
and  that  is  not  his  fault.  Everything  he  does  seems  marked 
by  unusual  good  taste  and  intelligence.  His  earlier  position 
and  treatment  in  the  store  must  have  been  very  galling.  I 
can  hardly  believe  that  the  gentleman  I  sang  Mendelssohn's 
music  with  the  other  evening  was  the  same  that  I  laughed 
at  as  he  blacked  old  Schwartz's  boots.  And  yet  he  saw  me 
laugh,  and  blacked  the  boots,  conscious  that  he  was  a  gen- 
tleman. It  must  have  been  very  hard.  And  yet  I  would 
rather  do  such  work  myself  than  live  on  charity,  and  so 
undoubtedly  he  felt.  It  is  very  fortunate  that  we  nearly 
finished  the  rearrangement  of  the  pictures  before  all  this 
occurred,  for  I  could  not  order  him  about  now  as  I  have 
done.  The  fact  is,  I  like  servants,  not  dignified  helpers; 
and  knowing  what  I  do,  even  if  he  would  permit  it,  I  could 
not  speak  to  him  as  formerly.  But  he  did  show  wonderful 
taste  and  skill  in  his  help.  See  now  that  little  ivy- twined 
basket  of  luscious  fruit:  it  looks  just  like  him.  If  he  were 
only  rich  and  titled,  what  a  genuine  nobleman  he  would 
make !  He  is  among  the  few  men  who  do  not  weary  or  dis- 
gust mej  so  many  are  coarse  and  commonplace.  I  cannot 


A    MISERABLE    TRIUMPH  213 

understand  it,  but  1,  who  fear  and  care  for  no  one  except 
my  father,  almost  feared  him  when  under  Miss  Brown's 
insolence  he  looked  as  few  men  can.  What  a  jumble  the 
world  is !  He  sweeps  the  store,  while  insignificant  atoms  of 
men  are  conspicuous  in  their  littleness  by  reason  of  high 
position. 

"It  was  very  kind  of  him  to  send  me  this  tasteful  gift 
after  the  miserable  experience  I  caused  him  the  other  day. 
I  suppose  he  does  it  on  the  principle  of  returning  good  for 
evil,  as  his  creed  teaches.  Moreover,  he  seems  grateful 
that  father  gave  him  employment,  and  a  chance  to  earn 
twice  what  he  receives.  He  certainly  must  be  promoted 
at  once. 

"Perhaps,"  thought  she,  smiling  to  herself,  while  a 
faint  tinge  of  color  came  into  her  cheeks — "perhaps,  like 
so  many  others,  he  may  be  inclined  to  be  a  little  senti- 
mental also,  though  he  will  never  be  as  silly  as  some  of 
them. 

"What  a  noble  part  he  acted  toward  those  Bruders! 
The  heart  of  a  pagan  could  not  fail  to  be  touched  by  that 
poor  little  fellow's  story,  and  it  has  made  me  believe  that 
I  have  more  heart  than  I  supposed.  Sometimes,  especially 
when  I  hear  or  read  of  some  such  noble  deed,  I  catch  glimpses 
of  a  life  infinitely  better  than  the  one  I  know,  like  the  sun 
shining  through  a  rift  in  the  clouds;  then  they  shut  down 
again,  and  father's  practical  wisdom  seems  the  best  there  is. 

"At  any  rate,"  she  said  aloud,  getting  up  and  walking 
the  floor  with  something  of  the  old  restless  energy,  "1  in- 
tend to  live  while  I  live,  and  crowd  into  life's  brief  day  all 
that  I  can.  I  thank  Mr.  Fleet  for  a  few  sensations  in  what 
would  otherwise  have  been  a  monotonous,  dreary  afternoon." 

"What,  strawberries!"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  coming  in. 
"Where  did  you  get  these?  They  are  the  first  I  have 
seen. ' ' 

"Your  man-of-all-work  sent  them  to  me,"  said  Chris- 
tine, daintily  dipping  one  after  another  in  sugar. 

"Well,  that  is  a  good  joke." 


214  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

"A  most  excellent  one,  which  I  am  enjoying,  and  in 
which  you  may  share.  Help  yourself.71 

"And  what  has  led  him  to  this  extravagant  favor?" 

"Consistency,  I  suppose.  As  a  good  Christian  he  would 
return  good  for  evil;  and  I  certainly  caused  him  many  and 
varied  tortures  the  other  day." 

"No,  he  is  grateful;  from  first  to  last  the  callow  youth 
has  been  overwhelmed  with  gratitude  that  I  have  permitted 
him  to  be  worth  to  me  double  what  I  paid  him." 

"Well,  you  have  decided  to  promote  him,  have  you  not  ?' ' 

"Yes,  he  shall  have  charge  of  the  hanging  of  new  pic- 
tures, and  the  general  arrangement  of  the  store,  so  as  to 
keep  up  your  tasteful  and  artistic  methods.  Moreover,  he 
shall  meet  customers  at  the  door,  and  direct  them  just  where 
to  find  what  they  want.  He  is  fine-looking,  polite,  speaks 
English  perfectly,  and  thus  takes  well.  I  can  gradually 
work  him  in  as  general  salesman,  without  creating  trouble- 
some jealousies.'7 

"What  will  old  Schwartz  say  ?77 

"Schwartz  is  good  at  finance  and  figures.  I  can  trust 
him,  and  he  must  relieve  me  more  in  this  respect.  He  of 
course  knows  that  this  is  the  more  important  work,  and 
will  feel  honored.  As  to  the  others,  if  they  do  not  like  it 
I  can  find  plenty  who  will.  Fleet's  good  fortune  will  take 
him  quite  by  surprise0  He  was  performing  his  old  humble 
duties  as  briskly  and  contentedly  as  usual  to- day. " 

"I  am  surprised  at  that,  for  I  should  have  supposed  that 
he  would  have  been  on  his  dignity  somewhat,  indicating 
by  manner  at  least  that  the  time  for  a  change  had  come. 
He  can  indicate  a  great  deal  by  manner,  as  you  might  have 
learned  had  you  seen  him  under  Miss  Brown's  insults  and 
my  lack  of  courtesy.  Well,  it  does  me  good  to  find  one 
American  whose  head  is  not  turned  by  a  little  success. 
You  are  right  though,  I  think,  father;  that  young  fellow 
can  be  very  useful  to  you,  and  a  decided  help  in  hastening 
the  time  when  we  can  leave  this  shop  life,  and  enter  our 
true  sphere.  I  am  more  impatient  to  go  than  words  can 


A    MISERABLE    TRIUMPH  215 

express,  for  life  seems  so  brief  and  uncertain  that  we  must 
grasp  things  as  soon  as  possible  or  we  lose  them  forever. 
Heavens!  what  a  scare  I  have  had!  Everything  seemed 
slipping  from  under  my  feet  yesterday,  and  I  sinking  I 
know  not  where.  Surely  by  concentrating  every  energy 
we  can  be  ready  to  go  by  a  year  from  next  fall." 

"Yes,  that  is  my  plan  now." 

On  the  following  day  Dennis  was  again  promoted  and 
his  pay  increased.  A  man  more  of  the  Pat  Murphy  type 
was  found  to  perform  the  coarse  work  of  the  store.  As 
Mr.  Ludolph  had  said,  Dennis  could  hardly  realize  his 
good  fortune.  He  felt  like  one  lifted  out  of  a  narrow 
valley  to  a  breezy  hillside.  He  was  now  given  a  vantage- 
point  from  which  it  seemed  that  he  could  climb  rapidly, 
and  his  heart  was  light  as  he  thought  of  what  he  would  be 
able  to  do  for  his  mother  and  sisters.  Hope  grew  sanguine 
as  he  saw  how  he  would  now  have  the  means  to  pursue  his 
beloved  art-studies  to  far  greater  advantage.  But,  above 
all,  his  promotion  brought  him  nearer  the  object  of  his  all- 
absorbing  passion.  What  he  feared  would  take  him  one  or 
two  years  to  accomplish  he  had  gained  in  a  day.  Hope 
whispered  that  perhaps  it  was  through  her  influence  in 
some  degree  that  he  had  obtained  this  advance.  Could 
she  have  seen  and  read  his  ardent  glances  ?  Lovers'  hopes 
will  grow  like  Jonah's  gourd,  and  die  down  as  quickly. 
Words  could  not  express  his  longing  to  see  her  again,  but 
for  several  days  she  did  not  come  to  the  store.  She  merely 
sent  him  word  to  complete  the  unfinished  show-room  in 
accordance  with  the  plan  on  which  they  had  been  work- 
ing, leaving  space  on  the  sides  of  the  room  opposite  each 
other  for  two  large  pictures.  Though  much  disappointed, 
Dennis  had  carefully  carried  out  her  bidding. 

Every  evening  the  moment  his  duties  permitted  he 
sought  his  instructor,  Mr.  Bruder,  and,  with  an  eagerness 
that  his  friends  could  not  understand,  sought  to  educate 
hand  and  eye.  Dennis  judged  rightly  that  mere  business 
success  would  never  open  to  him  a  way  to  the  heart  of  such 


216  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

a  girl  as  Christine.  His  only  hope  of  winning  even  her  at- 
tention was  to  excel  in  the  world  of  art,  where  she  hoped 
to  shine  as  a  queen.  Then  to  his  untiring  industry  and 
eager  attention  he  added  real  genius  for  his  tasks,  and  it 
was  astonishing  what  progress  he  made.  When  at  the  close 
of  his  daily  lesson  Dennis  had  taken  his  departure,  Mr. 
Bruder  would  shake  his  head,  and  cast  up  his  eyes  in  won- 
der, and  exclaim:  "Dot  youth  vill  astonish  de  vorld  yet. 
Never  in  all  Germany  haf  I  seen  such  a  scholar." 

Often  till  after  midnight  he  would  study  in  the  solitude 
of  his  own  little  room.  And  now,  relieved  of  duties  in  the 
early  morning,  he  arranged  an  old  easel  in  the  attic  of  the 
store,  a  sort  of  general  lumber-room,  yet  with  a  good  light 
for  his  purpose.  Here  he  secured  two  good  hours  daily,  and 
often  more,  for  painting;  and  his  hand  grew  skilful,  and  his 
eye  true,  under  his  earnest  efforts.  But  his  intense  applica- 
tion caused  his  body  to  grow  thin  and  his  face  pale. 

Christine  had  rapidly  recovered  from  her  illness,  her  vital 
and  elastic  constitution  rebounding  back  into  health  and 
vigor  like  a  bow  rarely  bent.  She,  too,  was  working  scarcely 
less  eagerly  than  Dennis,  and  preparing  for  a  triumph  which 
she  hoped  would  be  the  earnest  of  the  fame  she  meant  to 
achieve.  She  no  longer  came  to  the  store  with  her  father 
in  the  morning,  but  spent  the  best  and  early  hours  of  the 
day  in  painting,  riding  out  along  the  lake  and  in  the  park 
in  the  afternoon.  Occasionally  she  came  to  the  store  in  the 
after  part  of  the  day,  glanced  sharply  round  to  see  that 
her  tasteful  arrangement  was  kept  up,  and  ever  seemed 
satisfied. 

Dennis  was  usually  busy  with  customers  at  that  time, 
and,  though  conscious  of  her  presence  the  moment  she 
entered,  found  no  excuse  or  encouragement  to  approach. 
The  best  he  ever  received  from  her  was  a  slight  smile  and 
a  cold  bow  of  recognition,  and  in  her  haste  and  self -absorp- 
tion she  did  not  always  give  these.  She  evidently  had  some- 
thing on  her  mind  by  which  it  was  completely  occupied. 

"She  does  not  even  think  of  me,"  sighed  Dennis;  "she 


A    MISERABLE    TRIUMPH  217 

evidently  imagines  that  there  is  an  immeasurable  distance 
between  us  yet. ' ' 

He  was  right;  she  did  not  think  of  him,  and  scarcely 
thought  of  any  one  else,  so  absorbed  was  she  in  the  hope 
of  a  great  success  that  now  was  almost  sure.  She  had  sent 
her  thanks  for  the  berries  by  her  father,  which  so  frightened 
Dennis  that  he  had  ventured  on  no  more  such  favors.  She 
had  interceded  for  his  promotion.  Surely  she  had  paid  her 
debt,  and  was  at  quits.  So  she  would  have  been  if  he  had 
only  given  her  a  basket  of  strawberries,  but  having  given 
his  heart,  and  lifelong  love,  he  could  scarcely  be  expected  to 
be  satisfied.  But  he  vowed  after  each  blank  day  all  the 
more  resolutely  that  he  would  win  her  attention,  secure 
recognition  of  his  equality,  and  so  be  in  position  for  lay- 
ing siege  to  her  heart. 

But  a  deadly  blight  suddenly  came  over  all  his  hopes. 

One  bright  morning  late  in  May  two  large  flat  boxes  were 
brought  to  the  store.  Dennis  was  busy  with  customers,  and 
Mr.  Schwartz  said,  in  his  blunt,  decided  way,  that  he  would 
see  to  the  hanging  of  those  pictures.  They  were  carried  to 
the  show-room  in  the  rear  of  the  store,  and  Dennis  at  once 
concluded  that  they  were  something  very  fine,  designed  to 
fill  the  spaces  he  had  left,  and  was  most  anxious  to  see 
them.  Before  he  was  disengaged  they  were  lifted  from  their 
casing  and  were  standing  side  by  side  on  the  floor,  opposite 
the  entrance,  the  warm  rich  morning  light  falling  upon  them 
with  fine  effect.  Mr.  Schwartz  seemed  unusually  excited  and 
perplexed  for  him,  and  stared  first  at  one  picture,  then  at 
the  other,  in  a  manner  indicating  that  not  their  beauty,  but 
some  other  cause  disturbed  him. 

Dennis  had  scarcely  had  time  to  exclaim  at  the  exquisite 
loveliness  and  finish  of  the  two  paintings  before  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph  entered,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Cornell,  a  well-known 
artist,  Mr.  French,  proprietor  of  another  large  picture-store, 
and  several  gentlemen  of  taste,  but  of  lesser  note,  whom 
Dennis  had  learned  to  know  by  sight  as  habitues  of  the 
4 'Temple  of  Art."  He  also  saw  that  Christine  was  ad  vane- 

ROE— Y— 10 


218  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

ing  up  the  store  with  a  lady  and  gentleman.  Feeling  that 
his  presence  might  be  regarded  as  obtrusive,  he  passed  out, 
and  was  about  to  go  away,  when  he  heard  his  name  called. 

Looking  up  he  saw  Miss  Winthrop  holding  out  her  hand, 
and  in  a  moment  more  she  presented  him  to  her  father,  who 
greeted  him  cordially.  Christine  also  gave  him  a  brief 
smile,  and  said:  "You  need  not  go  away.  Come  and  see 
the  pictures." 

Quick-eyed  Dennis  observed  that  she  was  filled  with  sup- 
pressed excitement.  Her  cheeks,  usually  but  slightly  tinged 
with  pink,  now  by  turns  glowed  and  were  pale.  Miss  Win- 
throp seemed  to  share  her  nervousness,  though  what  so  ex- 
cited them  he  could  not  divine.  The  paintings,  beautiful 
as  they  were,  could  scarcely  be  the  adequate  cause;  and 
yet  every  eye  was  fastened  on  them. 

One  seemed  the  exact  counterpart  of  the  other  in  frame 
and  finish  as  well  as  subject.  A  little  in  the  background, 
upon  a  crag  overhanging  the  Khine,  was  a  castle,  massive, 
frowning,  and  built  more  for  security  and  defence  than  com- 
fort. The  surrounding  landscape  was  bold,  wild,  and  even 
gloomy.  But  in  contrast  with  these  rugged  and  sterner  fea- 
tures, was  a  scene  of  exquisite  softness  and  tenderness. 
Beneath  the  shadow  of  some  great  trees  not  far  from  the 
castle  gate,  a  young  crusader  was  taking  leave  of  his  fair- 
haired  bride.  Her  pale,  tearful  face,  wherein  love  and  grief 
blent  indescribably,  would  move  the  most  callous  heart, 
while  the  struggle  between  emotion  and  the  manly  pride 
that  would  not  permit  him  to  give  way,  in  the  young  chief- 
tain's features,  was  scarcely  less  touching.  Beautiful  as 
were  the  accessories  of  the  pictures,  their  main  point  was 
to  portray  the  natural,  tender  feeling  induced  by  a  parting 
that  might  be  forever.  At  first  they  all  gazed  quietly  and 
almost  reverently  at  the  vivid  scene  of  human  love  and  sor- 
row, save  old  Schwartz,  who  fidgeted  about  as  Dennis  had 
never  seen  him  before.  Clearly  something  was  wrong. 

"Mr.  Schwartz,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  "you  may  hang  the 
original  picture  on  the  side  as  we  enter,  and  the  copy 


A    MISERABLE    TRIUMPH  219 

opposite.  We  would  like  to  see  them  up,  and  in  a  better 
light." 

"Dat's  it, "  snorted  Mr.  Schwartz;  "I'd  like  to  know  vich 
is  vich." 

"You  do  not  mean  to  say  that  you  cannot  tell  them 
apart?  The  original  hung  here  some  time,  and  you  saw 
it  every  day." 

"1  do  mean  to  say  him,"  said  Mr.  Schwartz,  evidently 
much  vexed  with  himself.  "I  couldn't  have  believed  dat 
any  von  in  de  vorld  could  so  impose  on  me.  But  de  two 
pictures  are  just  de  same  to  a  pin  scratch  in  frame,  subject, 
and  treatment,  and  to  save  my  life  I  cannot  tell  dem  apart." 

Christine's  face  fairly  glowed  with  triumph,  and  hsr  eyes 
were  all  aflame  as  she  glanced  at  her  friend.  Miss  Winthrop 
came  and  took  her  cold,  quivering  hands  into  her  own  warm 
palms,  but  was  scarcely  less  excited.  Dennis  saw  not  this 
side  scene,  so  intent  was  he  on  the  pictures. 

"Do  you  mean  to  say,"  said  Mr.  Cornell,  stepping  for- 
ward, "that  one  of  these  paintings  is  a  copy  made  here  in 
Chicago,  and  that  Mr.  Schwartz  cannot  tell  it  from  the 
original  ?' ' 

"He  says  he  cannot,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph. 

"And  I'd  like  to  see  the  von  who  can,"  said  old  Schwartz, 
gruffly. 

"Will  you  please  point  out  the  original,"  said  one  of  the 
gentlemen,  "that  we  may  learn  to  distinguish  them?  For 
my  part  they  seem  like  the  twins  whose  mother  knew  them 
apart  by  pink  and  white  ribbons,  and  when  the  ribbons  got 
mixed  she  could  not  tell  which  was  which." 

Again  Christine's  eyes  glowed  with  triumph. 

"Well,  really,  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  "I  would 
rather  you  would  discover  the  copy  yourselves.  Mr.  Cor- 
nell, Mr.  French,  and  some  others,  I  think,  saw  the  original 
several  times. ' ' 

"Look  at  Mr.  Fleet,"  whispered  Miss  Winthrop  to 
Christine. 

She  looked,  and  her  attention  was  riveted  to  him.    Step 


220  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

by  step,  he  had  drawn  nearer,  and  his  eyes  were  eagerly 
glancing  from  one  picture  to  the  other  as  if  following  up 
a  clew.  Instinctively  she  felt  that  he  would  solve  the  ques- 
tion, and  her  little  hands  clenched,  and  her  brow  grew 
dark. 

"Keally,"  said  Mr.  Cornell,  "I  did  not  know  that  we  had 
an  artist  in  Chicago  who  could  copy  the  work  of  one  of  the 
best  European  painters  so  that  there  need  be  a  moment's 
hesitancy  in  detecting  differences,  but  it  seems  I  am  mis- 
taken, lam  almost  as  puzzled  as  Mr.  Schwartz." 

"The  frames  are  exactly  alike,"  said  Mr.  French. 

"There  is  a  difference  between  the  two  pictures,"  said 
Mr.  Cornell,  slowly.  "I  can  feel  it  rather  than  see  it.  They 
seem  alike,  line  for  line  and  feature  for  feature,  in  every 
part;  and  just  where  the  difference  lies  and  in  what  it  con- 
sists I  cannot  tell  for  the  life  of  me." 

With  the  manner  of  one  who  had  settled  a  difficult  prob- 
lem, Dennis  gave~  a  sigh  of  relief  so  audible  that  several 
glanced  at  him. 

"Perhaps  Mr.  Fleet  from  his  superior  knowledge  and 
long  experience  can  settle  this  question,"  said  Christine, 
sarcastically. 

All  eyes  were  turned  toward  him.  He  flushed  painfully, 
but  said  nothing. 

"Speak  up,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  good-naturedly,  "if  you 
have  any  opinion  to  give. ' ' 

"I  would  not  presume  to  give  my  opinion  among  so  many 
more  competent  judges. " 

"Come,  Mr.  Fleet,"  said  Christine,  with  a  covert  taunt 
in  her  tone,  "that  is  a  cheap  way  of  making  a  reputation. 
I  fear  the  impression  will  be  given  that  you  have  no 
opinion. ' ' 

Dennis  was  now  very  pale,  as  he  ever  was  under  great 
excitement.  The  old  look  came  again  that  the  young  ladies 
remembered  seeing  at  Miss  Brown's  entertainment. 

"Come,  speak  up  if  you  can,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph  shortly. 

"Your  porter,  Mr.  Ludolph?"  said  Mr.  Cornell,  remem- 


A    MISERABLE    TRIUMPH  221 

bering  Dennis  only  in  that  capacity.    "Perhaps  he  has  some 
private  marks  by  which  he  can  enlighten  us." 

Dennis  now  acted  no  longer  as  porter  or  clerk,  but  as  a 
man  among  men. 

Stepping  forward  and  looking  Mr.  Cornell  full  in  the 
face  he  said:  "I  can  prove  to  you,  sir,  that  your  insinuation 
is  false  by  simply  stating  that  I  never  saw  those  pictures 
before.  The  original  had  been  removed  from  the  store 
before  I  came.  I  have  had  therefore  no  opportunity  of 
knowing  the  copy  from  the  original.  But  the  pictures  are 
different,  and  I  can  tell  precisely  wherein  I  think  the  differ- 
ence lies." 

"Tell  it  then,"  said  several  voices.  Christine  stood  a  lit- 
tle back  and  on  one  side,  so  that  he  could  not  see  her  face, 
or  he  would  have  hesitated  long  before  he  spoke.  In  the 
firm,  decided  tones  of  one  thoroughly  aroused  and  sure 
of  his  ground,  he  proceeded. 

"Suppose  this  the  copy,"  said  he,  stepping  to  one  of 
the  pictures.  (Christine  breathed  hard  and  leaned  heavily 
against  her  friend.)  "I  know  of  but  one  in  Chicago  capa- 
ble of  such  exquisite  work,  and  he  did  not  do  it;  indeed 
he  could  not,  though  a  master  in  art." 

"You  refer  to  Mr.  Bruder?"  said  Mr.  Cornell. 

Dennis  bowed  and  continued:  "It  is  the  work  of  one  in 
whom  the  imitative  power  is  wonderfully  developed;  but 
one  having  never  felt — or  unable  to  feel — the  emotions  here 
presented  cannot  portray  them.  This  picture  is  but  the 
beautiful  corpse  of  that  one.  While  line  for  line,  and 
feature  for  feature,  and  even  leaf  for  leaf  on  the  trees  is 
faithfully  exact,  yet  the  soul,  the  deep,  sorrowful  tender- 
ness that  you  feel  in  that  picture  rather  than  see,  is  wanting 
in  this.  In  that  picture  you  forget  to  blame  or  praise,  to 
criticise  at  all,  so  deeply  are  your  sympathies  touched. 
It  seems  as  if  in  reality  two  human  hearts  were  being  torn 
asunder  before  you.  This  you  know  to  be  an  exquisite 
picture  only,  and  can  coolly  criticise  and  dwell  on  every 
part,  and  say  how  admirably  it  is  done. ' ' 


222  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

And  Dennis  bowed  and  retired. 

"By  Jove,  lie  is  right,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Cornell;  and 
approving  faces  and  nodding  heads  confirmed  his  judg- 
ment. But  Dennis  enjoyed  not  his  triumph,  for  as  he 
turned  he  met  Christine's  look  of  agony  and  hate,  and 
like  lightning  it  flashed  through  his  mind,  "She  painted 
the  picture." 


LIFE    WITHOUT  LOVE  223 


CHAPTEJR  XX  VTI1 

LIFE     WITHOUT    LOVE 

AS  Dennis  realized  the  truth,  and  remembered  what  he 
had  said,  his  face  was  scarcely  less  full  of  pain  than 
Christine's.  He  saw  that  her  whole  soul  was  bent 
on  an  imitation  that  none  could  detect,  and  that  he  had 
foiled  her  purpose.  But  Christine's  wound  was  deeper 
than  that.  She  had  been  told  again,  clearly  and  correctly, 
that  the  sphere  of  high,  true  art  was  beyond  her  reach. 
She  felt  that  the  verdict  was  true,  and  her  own  judgment 
confirmed  every  word  Dennis  uttered.  But  she  had  done 
her  best;  therefore . her  suffering  was  truly  agony — the  pain 
and  despair  at  failure  in  the  most  cherished  hope  of  life. 
There  seemed  a  barrier  which,  from  the  very  limitations 
of  her  being,  she  could  not  pass.  She  did  not  fail  from 
the  lack  of  taste,  culture,  or  skill,  but  in  that  which  was 
like  a  sixth  sense — something  she  did  not  possess.  Lacking 
the  power  to  touch  and  move  the  heart,  she  knew  she  could 
never  be  a  great  artist. 

Abruptly  and  without  a  word  she  left  the  room  and 
store,  accompanied  by  the  Winthrops.  Dennis  felt  as  if  he 
could  bite  his  tongue  out,  and  Christine's  face  haunted  him 
like  a  dreadful  apparition.  Wherever  he  turned  he  saw  it 
so  distorted  by  pain,  and  almost  hate,  that  it  scarcely  seemed 
the  same  that  had  smiled  on  him  as  he  entered  at  her 
invitation. 

''Truly  God  is  against  all  this,"  groaned  he,  to  himself; 
4 'and  what  I  in  my  weakness  could  not  do  He  has  accom- 
plished by  this  unlooked-for  scene.  She  will  now  ever 
regard  me  with  aversion." 


224  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

Dennis,  like  many  another,  thought  he  saw  God's  plan 
clearly  from  a  mere  glimpse  of  a  part  of  it.  He  at  once 
reached  this  miserable  conclusion,  and  suffered  as  greatly 
as  if  it  had  been  God's  will,  instead  of  his  own  imagination. 
To  wait  and  trust  is  often  the  latest  lesson  we  learn  in  life. 

Mr.  Ludolph's  guests,  absorbed  in  the  pictures,  at  first 
scarcely  noticed  the  departure  of  the  others. 

Christine,  with  consummate  skill  and  care,  kept  her  rela- 
tionship to  the  picture  unknown  to  all  save  the  Winthrops, 
meaning  not  to  acknowledge  it  unless  she  succeeded.  But 
in  Dennis's  startled  and  pained  face  she  saw  that  he  had 
read  her  secret,  and  this  fact  also  annoyed  her  much. 

"I  should  like  to  know  the  artist  who  copied  this  paint- 
ing, ' '  said  Mr.  Cornell. 

44  The  artist  is  an  amateur,  and  not  willing  to  come  before 
the  public  at  present, ' '  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  so  decidedly  that 
no  further  questions  were  asked. 

*'I  am  much  interested  in  that  young  clerk  of  yours," 
said  Mr.  French.  ufle  seems  to  understand  himself.  It 
is  so  hard  to  find  a  good  discriminating  judge  of  pictures. 
Do  you  expect  to  keep  him  ?' ' 

44 Yes,  I  do,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  with  such  emphasis  that 
his  rival  in  trade  pressed  that  point  also  no  further. 

44 Well,  really,  Mr.  Ludolph,"  said  one  of  the  gentlemen, 
"you  deal  in  wonders,  mysteries,  and  all  sorts  of  astonish- 
ing things  here.  We  have  an  unknown  artist  in  Chicago 
deserving  an  ovation;  you  have  in  your  employ  a  prince 
of  critics,  and  if  I  mistake  not  he  is  the  same  who  sang  at 
Brown's  some  little  time  ago.  Miss  Brown  told  me  that 
he  was  your  porter." 

44  Yes,  i  took  him  as  a  stranger  out  of  work  and  knew 
nothing  of  him.  But  he  proved  to  be  an  educated  and 
accomplished  man,  who  will  doubtless  be  of  great  use  to 
me  in  time.  Of  course  I  promoted  him  when  I  found  him 
out."  These  last  remarks  were  made  for  Mr.  French's 
benefit  rather  than  for  any  one's  else.  He  intended  that 
his  rival  should  knowingly  violate  all  courtesy  if  he  sought 


LIFE    WITHOUT   LOVE  225 

to  lure  Dennis  away.  After  admiring  the  paintings  and 
other  things  recently  received,  the  gentlemen  bowed  them- 
selves out. 

On  leaving  the  store  Mr.  Winthrop — feeling  awkward  in 
the  presence  of  the  disappointed  girl — had  pleaded  business, 
and  bidden  her  adieu  with  a  warm  grasp  of  the  hand  and 
many  assurances  that  she  had  succeeded  beyond  his  belief. 

"I  know  you  mean  kindly  in  what  you  say,"  said  Chris- 
tine, while  not  the  slightest  gleam  lighted  up  her  pale,  sad 
face.  "Good- by." 

She,  too,  was  relieved,  and  wished  to  be  alone.  Miss 
Winthrop  sought  to  comfort  her  friend  as  they  walked 
homeward. 

"Christine,  you  look  really  ill.  I  don't  see  why  you 
take  this  matter  so  to  heart.  You.  have  achieved  a  success 
that  would  turn  any  head  but  yours.  I  could  not  believe 
it  possible  had  I  not  seen  it.  Your  ambition  and  ideal  are 
so  lofty  that  you  will  always  make  yourself  miserable  by 
aiming  at  the  impossible.  As  Mr.  Fleet  said,  I  do  not 
believe  there  is  another  in  the  city  who  could  have  done 
so  well,  and  if  you  can  do  that  now,  what  may  you  not 
accomplish  by  a  few  years  more  of  work?" 

"That's  the  terrible  part  of  it,"  said  Christine,  with  a 
loog  sigh.  •  "Susie,  I  have  attained  my  growth.  I  can  never 
be  a  real  artist  and  no  one  living  can  ever  know  the  bitter- 
ness of  my  disappointment.  I  do  not  believe  in  the  immor- 
tality that  you  do,  and  this  was  my  only  chance  to  live  be- 
yond the  brief  hour  of  my  life.  If  I  could  only  have  won 
for  myself  a  place  among  the  great  names  that  the  world 
will  ever  honor,  I  might  with  more  content  let  the  candle  of 
my  existence  flicker  out  when  it  must.  But  I  have  learned 
to-day  what  I  have  often  feared — that  Christine  Ludolph 
must  soon  end  in  a  forgotten  handful  of  dust." 

"Oh,  Christine,  if  you  could  only  believe!" 

"I  cannot.  I  tried  in  my  last  sickness,  but  vainly.  I 
am  more  convinced  than  ever  of  the  correctness  of  my 
father's  views." 


226  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Miss  Winthrop  sighed  deeply.  "Why  are  you  so  de- 
spondent ?' '  she  at  last  asked. 

As  if  half  speaking  to  herself,  Christine  repeated  the 
words,  "  *  Painted  by  one  having  never  felt,  or  unable  to 
feel,  the  emotions  presented,  and  therefore  one  who  cannot 
portray  them. '  That  is  just  the  trouble.  1  tried  to  speak 
in  a  language  I  do  not  know.  Susie,  I  believe  I  am  about 
half  ice.  Sometimes  I  think  I  am  like  Undine,  and  have  no 
soul.  I  know  I  have  no  heart,  in  the  sense  that  you  have. 

"I  live  a  very  cold  sort  of  life,"  she  continued,  with  a 
slight  shudder.  "I  seem  surrounded  by  invisible  barriers 
that  I  cannot  pass.  I  can  see,  beyond,  what  I  want,  but 
cannot  reach  it.  Oh,  Susie,  if  you  knew  what  I  suffered 
when  so  ill!  Everything  seemed  slipping  from  me.  And 
yet  why  I  should  so  wish  to  live  I  hardly  know,  when  my 
life  is  so  narrowed  down. ' ' 

"You  see  the  disease,  but  not  the  remedy,7'  sighed  Susie. 

"What  is  the  remedy  ?" 

4 '  Love.  Love  to  God,  and  I  may  add  love  for  some  good 
man." 

Christine  stopped  a  moment  and  almost  stamped  her  foot 
impatiently. 

"You  discourage  me  more  than  any  one  else,"  she  cried. 
4 'As  to  loving  God,  how  can  I  love  merely  a  name?  and, 
even  if  He  existed,  how  could  I  love  a  Being  who  left  His 
world  so  full  of  vile  evils?  As  to  human  love,  faugh! 
I  have  had  enough  of  romantic  attachments." 

"Do  you  never  intend  to  marry  ?" 

"Susie,  you  are  the  friend  of  my  soul,  and  I  trust  you 
and  you  only  with  our  secret.  Yes,  i  expect  to  marry,  but 
not  in  this  land.  You  know  that  in  Germany  my  father 
will  eventually  be  a  noble,  the  representative  of  one  of  the 
most  ancient  and  honorable  families.  We  shall  soon  have 
sufficient  wealth  to  resume  our  true  position  there.  A  hus- 
band will  then  be  found  for  me.  1  only  stipulate  that  he 
shall  be  able  to  give  me  position  among  the  first,  and  gratify 
my  bent  for  art  to  the  utmost." 


LIFE    WITHOUT  LOVE  227 

"Well,  Christine,  you  are  a  strange  girl,  and  jour  dream 
of  the  future  is  stranger  still. ' ' 

"Sometimes  I  think  that  all  is  a  dream,  and  may  end 
like  one.  Nothing  seems  certain  or  real,  or  turns  out  as 
one  expects.  Think  of  it.  A  nobody  who  swept  my 
father's  store  the  other  day  has  this  morning  made  such 
havoc  in  my  dream  that  I  am  sick  at  heart. " 

"But  you  cannot  blame  Mr.  Fleet.  He  did  it  uncon- 
sciously; he  was  goaded  on  to  do  it.  No  man  could  have 
done  otherwise.  You  surely  do  not  feel  hardly  toward 
him?" 

"We  do  not  naturally  love  the  lips  and  bless  the  voice 
that  tell  us  of  an  incurable  disease.  Oh,  no,"  she  added, 
"why  should  I  think  of  him  at  all?  He  merely  happened 
to  point  out  what  I  half  suspected  myself.  And  yet  the 
peculiar  way  this  stranger  crosses  my  path  from  time  to 
time  almost  makes  me  superstitious." 

"And  you  seem  to  have  peculiar  power  over  him.  He 
would  have  assuredly  left  us  in  the  lurch  at  our  tableau 
party  had  it  not  been  for  you,  and  I  should  not  have  blamed 
him.  And  to-day  he  seemed  troubled  and  pained  beyond 
expression  when  he  read  from  your  face,  as  I  imagine,  that 
you  were  the  author  of  the  picture. ' ' 

"Yes,  I  saw  that  he  discovered  the  fact,  and  this  pro- 
vokes me  also.  If  he  should  speak  his  thoughts — " 

"I  do  not  think  he  will.  I  am  sure  he  will  not  if  you 
caution  him." 

"That  I  will  not  do;  and  I  think  on  the  whole  he  has 
too  much  sense  to  speak  carelessly  of  what  he  imagined  he 
saw  in  a  lady's  face.  And  now,  Susie,  good- by.  I  shall 
not  inflict  my  miserable  self  longer  upon  you  to-day,  and 
J  am  one  who  can  best  cure  my  wounds  in  solitude." 

"Do  you  cure  them,  Christine?  or  do  you  only  cover 
them  up  ?  If  I  had  your  creed  nothing  could  cure  my 
wounds.  Time  might  deaden  the  pain,  and  I  forget  them 
in  other  things,  but  I  do  not  see  where  any  cure  could  come 
from.  Oh,  Christine !  you  did  me  good  service  when  in  the 


228  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

deepening  twilight  of  Miss  Brown's  parlor  you  showed  me 
my  useless,  unbelieving  life.  But  I  do  believe  now.  The 
cross  is  radiant  to  me  now — more  radiant  than  the  one  that 
so  startled  us  then.  Mr.  Fleet's  words  were  true,  I  know, 
as  I  know  my  own  existence,  I  could  die  for  my  faith. ' ' 

Christine  frowned  and  said,  almost  harshly:  "I  don't 
believe  in  a  religion  so  full  of  crosses  and  death.  Why 
could  not  the  all-powerful  Being  you  believe  in  take  away 
the  evil  from  the  world  ?' ' 

44  That  is  just  what  He  came  to  do.  In  that  very  char- 
acter he  was  pointed  out  by  His  authorized  forerunner: 
4  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world.'" 

44 Why  does  he  not  do  it  then?"  asked  Christine,  petu- 
lantly. "Centuries  have  passed.  Patience  itself  is  wearied 
out.  He  has  had  time  enough,  if  He  ever  meant  or  had  the 
power  to  fulfil  the  promise.  But  the  world  is  as  full  of  evil 
and  suffering  as  ever.  Susie,  I  would  not  disturb  your 
credulous  faith,  for  it  seems  to  do  you  good;  but  to  me 
Christ  was  a  noble  but  mistaken  man,  dead  and  buried 
centuries  ago.  He  can  do  for  me  no  more  than  Socrates. 
They  vigorously  attacked  evil  in  their  day,  but  evil  was  too 
much  for  them,  as  it  is  for  us.  We  must  just  get  the  most 
we  can  out  of  life,  and  endure  what  we  cannot  prevent  or 
escape.  An  angel  could  not  convert  me  to-day — no,  not 
even  Susie  Winthrop,  and  that  is  saying  more  still;"  and 
with  a  hasty  kiss  she  vanished. 

Susie  looked  wistfully  after  her,  and  then  bent  her  steps 
homeward  with  a  pitying  face. 

Christine  at  once  went  to  her  own  private  room.  Put- 
ting on  a  loose  wrapper  she  threw  herself  on  a  lounge,  and 
buried  her  face  in  the  cushions.  Her  life  seemed  growing 
narrow  and  meagre.  Hour  after  hour  passed,  and  the  late 
afternoon  sun  was  shining  into  her  room  when  she  arose 
from  her  bitter  revery,  and  summed  up  all  in  a  few  words 
spoken  aloud,  as  was  her  custom  when  alone. 

4 'Must  I,  after  all,  come  <lo^n  to  the  Epicurean  philoso- 


LIFE    WITHOUT  LOVE  229 

phy,  'Let  us  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry,  for  to-morrow  we 
die'  ?  I  seem  on  a  narrow  island,  the  ocean  is  all  around 
me,  and  the  tide  is  rising,  rising.  It  will  cover  soon  my 
standing- place,  and  then  what  becomes  of  Christine  Lu- 
dolph?" 

A  look  of  anguish  came  into  the  fair  young  face,  and 
a  slight  shudder  passed  over  her.  She  glanced  around  a 
room  furnished  in  costly  elegance.  She  saw  her  lovely 
person  in  the  mirror  opposite,  and  exclaimed:  "What  a 
mystery  it  all  is !  I  have  so  much,  and  yet  so  utterly  fail 
of  having  that  which  contents.  1  have  all  that  wealth  can 
purchase;  and  multitudes  act  as  if  that  were  enough.  I 
know  I  am  beautiful.  I  can  see  that  yonder  for  myself,  as 
well  as  read  it  in  admiring  eyes.  And  yet  my  maid  is  bet- 
ter contented  than  I,  and  the  boy  who  blacks  the  boots 
better  satisfied  with  his  lot  than  either  of  us.  I  am  raised 
so  high  that  I  can  see  how  much  more  there  is  or  might  be 
beyond.  I  feel  like  one  led  into  a  splendid  vestibule,  only 
to  find  that  the  palace  is  wanting,  or  that  it  is  a  mean  hovel. 
All  that  I  have  only  mocks  me,  and  becomes  a  means  of 
torture.  All  that  I  am  and  have  ought  to  be,  might  be,  a 
mere  prelude,  an  earnest  and  a  preparation  for  something 
better  beyond.  But  I  am  told,  and  must  believe,  that  this 
is  all,  and  I  may  lose  this  in  a  moment  and  forever.  It  is 
as  if  a  noble  strain  of  music  commenced  sweetly,  and  then 
suddenly  broke  down  into  a  few  discordant  notes  and  ceased. 
It  is  like  my  picture — all  very  well;  but  that  which  would 
speak  to  and  move  the  heart,  year  after  year,  when  the 
mere  beauty  ceased  to  please — that  life  or  something  is 
wanting.  What  were  his  words? — 'This  picture  is  but  the 
beautiful  corpse  of  the  other' ;  and  my  life  is  but  a  cold 
marble  effigy  of  a  true  life.  And  yet  is  there  any  true  and 
better  life  ?  If  there  is  nothing  better  beyond,  I  have  been 
carried  forward  too  far.  Miss  Brown  thoroughly  enjoys 
champagne  and  flirtations.  Susie  Winthrop  is  happy  in 
her  superstition,  as  any  one  might  be  who  could  believe 
what  she  does.  But  I  have  gone  past  the  power  of  taking 


230  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

up  these  things,  as  I  have  gone  past  my  childhood's  sports. 
And  now  what  is  there  for  me  ?  My  most  dear  and  cher- 
ished hope — a  hope  that  shone  above  my  life  like  a  sun — 
has  been  blown  away  by  the  breath  of  my  father's  clerk  (it 
required  no  greater  power  to  bring  me  down  to  my  true 
level),  and  I  hoped  to  be  a  queen  among  men,  high-born, 
but  -crowned  with  the  richer  coronet  of  genius.  I,  who 
hoped  to  win  so  high  a  place  that  men  would  speak  of  me 
with  honest  praise,  now  and  in  all  future  time,  must  be 
contented  as  a  mere  accomplished  woman,  deemed  worthy 
perhaps  in  time  to  grace  some  nobleman's  halls  who  in  the 
nice  social  scale  abroad  may  stand  a  little  higher  than  my- 
self. I  meant  to  shine  and  dazzle,  to  stoop  to  give  in  every 
case;  but  now  I  must  take  what  I  can  get,  with  a  humble 
*  Thank  you';"  and  she  clenched  her  little  powerless  hands 
in  impotent  revolt  at  what  seemed  very  cruel  destiny. 

She  appeared  at  the  dinner-table  outwardly  calm  and 
quiet.  Her  father  did  not  share  in  her  bitter  disappoint- 
ment, and  she  saw  that  he  did  not,  and  so  felt  more  alone. 
He  regarded  her  success  as  remarkable  (as  it  truly  was), 
having  never  believed  that  she  could  copy  a  picture  so  ex- 
actly as  to  deceive  an  ordinarily  good  observer.  When, 
therefore,  old  Schwartz  and  others  were  unable  to  distin- 
guish between  the  pictures,  he  was  more  than  satisfied. 
He  was  sorry  that  Dennis  had  spoiled  the  triumph,  but 
could  not  blame  him.  At  the  same  time  he  recognized  in 
Fleet  another  and  most  decided  proof  of  intelligence  on 
questions  of  art,  for  he  knew  that  his  criticism  was  just. 
He  believed  that  when  the  true  knight  that  his  ambition 
would  choose  appeared,  with  golden  spurs  and  jewelled 
crest,  then  her  deeper  nature  would  awaken,  and  she  far 
surpass  all  previous  effort.  Moreover,  he  did  not  fully 
understand  or  enter  into  her  lofty  ambition.  To  see  her 
settled  in  life,  titled,  rich,  and  a  recognized  leader  in  the 
aristocracy  of  his  own  land,  was  his  highest  aspiration  so 
far  as  she  was  concerned. 

He  began,  therefore,  in  a  strain  of  compliment  to  cheer 


LIFE    WITHOUT   LOVE  231 

his  daughter  and  rally  her  courage;  but  she  shook  her  head 
sadly,  and  said  so  decidedly,  "'Father,  let  us  change  the 
subject,"  that  with  some  surprise  at  her  feelings  he  yielded 
to  her  wish,  thinking  that  a  little  time  and  experience  would 
moderate  her  ideas  and  banish  the  pain  of  disappointment. 
It  was  a  quiet  meal,  both  being  occupied  by  their  own 
thoughts.  Soon  after  he  was  absorbed  for  the  evening  by 
his  cigar  and  some  business  papers. 

It  was  a  mild,  summer-like  night,  and  a  warm,  gentle 
rain  was  falling.  Even  in  the  midst  of  a  great  city  the 
sweet  odors  of  spring  found  their  way  to  the  private  par- 
lor where  Christine  sat  by  the  window,  still  lost  in  painful 
thoughts. 

"Nature  is  full  of  hope,  and  the  promise  of  coming  life. 
So  ought  I  to  be  in  this  my  spring-time.  Why  am  I  not  ? 
If  I  am  sad  and  disappointed  in  my  spring,  how  dreary  will 
be  my  autumn,  when  leaf  after  leaf  of  beauty,  health,  and 
strength  drops  away!" 

A  muffled  figure,  seemingly  regardless  of  the  rain,  passed 
slowly  down  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  Though  the 
person  cast  but  a  single  quick  glance  toward  her  window, 
and  though  the  twilight  was  deepening,  something  in  the 
passer-by  suggested  Dennis  Fleet.  For  a  moment  she  wished 
she  could  speak  to  him.  She  felt  very  lonely.  Solitude 
had  done  her  no  good.  Her  troubles  only  grew  darker  and 
more  real  as  she  brooded  over  them.  She  instinctively  felt 
that  her  father  could  not  understand  her,  and  she  had  never 
been  able  to  go  to  him  for  sympathy.  He  was  not  the  kind 
of  person  that  any  one  would  seek  for  such  a  purpose.  Chris- 
tine was  not  inclined  to  confidence,  and  there  was  really  no 
one  who  knew  her  deeper  feelings,  and  who  could  enter  into 
her  real  hopes  for  life.  She  was  so  proud  and  cold  that  few 
ever  thought  of  giving  her  confidence,  much  less  of  asking 
hers. 

Up  to  the  time  of  her  recent  illness  she  had  been  strong, 
self-confident,  almost  assured  of  success.  At  times  she  rec- 
ognized dimly  that  something  was  wrong;  but  she  shut  her 


232  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

eyes  to  the  unwelcome  truth,  and  determined  to  succeed. 
But  her  sickness  and  fears  at  that  time,  and  now  a  failure 
that  seemed  to  destroy  the  ambition  of  her  life,  all  united 
in  greatly  shaking  her  self-confidence. 

This  evening,  as  never  before,  she  was  conscious  of 
weakness  and  dependence.  With  the  instinct  of  one  sink- 
ing, her  spirit  longed  for  help  and  support.  Then  the 
thought  suddenly  occurred  to  her,  "  Perhaps  this  young 
stranger,  who  so  clearly  pointed  out  the  disease,  may  also 
show  the  way  to  some  remedy. ' ' 

But  the  figure  had  passed  on.  In  a  moment  mere  pride 
and  conventionality  resumed  sway,  and  she  smiled  bitterly, 
Baying  to  herself,  "What  a  weak  fool  I  am  to-night!  Of  all 
things  let  me  not  become  a  romantic  miss  again. ' ' 

She  went  to  her  piano  and  struck  into  a  brilliant  strain. 
For  a  few  moments  the  music  was  of  a  forced  and  defiant 
character,  loud,  gay,  but  with  no  real  or  rollicking  mirth 
in  it,  and  it  soon  ceased.  Then  in  a  shrap  contrast  came 
a  sad,  weird  German  ballad,  and  this  was  real.  In  its  pathos 
her  burdened  heart  found  expression,  and  whoever  listened 
then  would  not  merely  have  admired,  but  would  have  felt. 
One  song  followed  another.  All  the  pent-up  feeling  of  the 
day  seemed  to  find  natural  flow  in  the  plaintive  minstrelsy 
of  her  own  land. 

Suddenly  she  ceased  and  went  to  her  window.  The 
muffled  figure  stood  in  the  shadow  of  an  angle  in  the  atti- 
tude of  a  listener.  A  moment  later  it  vanished  in  the  dusk 
toward  the  business  part  of  the  city.  The  quick  footsteps 
died  away,  and  only  the  patter  of  the  falling  rain  broke  the 
silence.  Christine  felt  sure  that  it  was  Dennis.  At  first  her 
feeling  was  one  of  pleasure.  His  coming  and  evident  inter- 
est took  somewhat,  she  scarcely  knew  why,  from  her  sense 
of  loneliness.  Soon  her  pride  awoke,  however,  and  she 
said:  "He  has  no  business  here  to  watch  and  listen.  I 
will  show  him  that,  with  all  his  taste  and  intelligence,  we 
have  no  ground  in  common  on  which  he  can  presume." 

Her  father  had  also  listened  to  the  music,  and  said  to 


LIFE    WITHOUT  LOVE  233 

himself:  "Christine  is  growing  a  little  sentimental.  She 
takes  this  disappointment  too  much  to  heart.  I  must 
touch  her  pride  with  the  spur  a  little,  and  that  will  make 
her  ice  and  steel  in  a  moment.  It  is  no  slight  task  to  keep 
a  girl's  heart  safe  till  you  want  to  use  it.  I  will  wait  till  the 
practical  daylight  of  to-morrow,  and  then  she  shall  look  at 
the  world  through  my  eyes  again." 


234  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTEE  XXIX 
DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL  USE 

THE  day  following  his  unlucky  criticism  of  the  pic- 
tures was  one  of  great  despondency  to  Dennis.     He 
had  read  in  Christine's  face  that  he  had  wounded 
her  sorely;    and,  though  she  knew  it  to  be  unintentional, 
would  it  not  prejudice  her  mind  against  him,  and  snap  the 
slender  thread  by  which  he  hoped  to  draw  across  the  gulf 
between  them  the  cord,  and  then  the  cable,  that  might  in 
time  unite  their  lives  ? 

In  the  evening  his  restless,  troubled  spirit  drove  him,  in 
spite  of  the  rain,  to  seek  to  be  at  least  nearer  to  her.  He 
felt  sure  that  in  the  dusk  and  wrapped  in  his  greatcoat  he 
would  not  be  noticed,  but  was  mistaken,  as  we  have  seen. 
He  was  rewarded,  for  he  heard  her  sing  as  never  before,  as 
he  did  not  believe  she  could  sing.  For  the  first  time  her 
rich,  thoroughly  trained  voice  had  the  sweetness  and  power 
of  feeling.  To  Dennis  her  song  seemed  like  an  appeal,  a 
cry  for  help,  and  his  heart  responded  in  the  deepest  sym- 
pathy. As  he  walked  homeward  he  said  to  himself:  "She 
could  be  a  true  artist,  perhaps  a  great  one,  for  she  can  feel. 
She  has  a  heart.  She  has  a  taste  and  skill  in  touch  that  few 
can  surpass.  I  can  scarcely  believe  the  beautiful  coloring 
and  faultless  lines  of  that  picture  are  her  work. ' ' 

He  long  for  a  chance  to  speak  with  her  and  explain. 
He  felt  that  he  had  so  much  to  say,  and  in  a  thousand  im- 
aginary ways  introduced  the  subject  of  her  painting.  He 
hoped  he  might  find  her  sketching  in  some  of  the  rooms 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE  235 

again.  He  thought  that  he  knew  her  better  for  having 
heard  her  sing,  and  that  he  could  speak  to  her  quite 
frankly. 

The  next  day  she  came  to  the  store,  but  passed  him 
without  the  slightest  notice.  He  hoped  she  had  not  seen 
him,  and,  as  she  passed  out,  so  placed  himself  that  she 
must  see  him,  and  secured  for  his  pains  only  a  slight,  cold 
inclination  of  the  head. 

4 'It  is  as  I  feared,"  he  said,  bitterly.  "She  detests  me 
for  having  spoiled  her  triumph.  She  is  not  just,"  he 
added,  angrily.  "She  has  no  sense  of  justice,  or  she  would 
not  blame  me.  What  a  mean-spirited  craven  I  should 
have  been  had  I  shrank  away  under  her  taunts  yesterday. 
Well,  I  can  be  proud  too." 

When  she  came  in  again  he  did  not  raise  his  eyes,  and 
when  she  passed  out  he  was  in  a  distant  part  of  the  store. 
Christine  saw  no  tall  muffled  figure  under  her  window 
again,  though  she  had  the  curiosity  to  look.  That  even 
this  humble  admirer,  for  whom  she  cared  not  a  jot,  should 
show  such  independence  rather  nettled  and  annoyed  her  for 
a  moment.  But  she  paid  no  more  heed  to  him  than  to  the 
other  clerks. 

But  what  was  the  merest  jar  to  Christine's  vanity  cost 
Dennis  a  desperate  struggle,  it  required  no  effort  on  her 
part  to  pass  him  by  without  a  glance.  To  him  it  was  tor- 
ture. In  a  few  days  she  ceased  to  think  about  him  at  all, 
and  only  remembered  him  in  connection  with  her  disap- 
pointment. But  she  was  restless,  could  settle  down  to  no 
work,  and  had  lost  her  zest  in  her  old  pleasures.  She  tried 
to  act  as  usual,  for  she  saw  her  father's  eye  was  on  her.  He 
had  not  much  indulgence  for  any  one's  weaknesses  save  his 
own,  and  often  by  a  little  cold  satire  would  sting  her  to  the 
very  quick.  On  the  other  hand,  his  admiration,  openly  ex- 
pressed in  a  certain  courtly  gallantry,  nourished  her  pride 
but  not  her  heart.  Though  she  tried  to  keep  up  her  usual 
routine,  her  manner  was  forced  before  him  and  languid  when 
alone.  But  he  said,  "All  this  will  pass  away  like  a  cold 


236  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

snap  in  spring,  and  the  old  zest  will  come  again  in  a  few 
days." 

It  did,  but  from  a  cause  which  he  could  not  understand, 
and  which  his  daughter  with  consummate  skill  and  care  con- 
cealed. He  thought  it  was  only  the  old  enthusiasm  rallying 
after  a  sharp  frost  of  disappointment. 

Dennis's  pride  gave  way  before  her  cool  and  unstudied 
indifference.  It  was  clearly  evident  to  him  that  he  had  no 
hold  upon  her  life  whatever,  and  how  to  gain  any  he  did 
not  see.  He  became  more  and  more  dejected. 

11  She  must  have  a  heart,  or  I  could  not  love  her  so;  but 
it  is  so  incased  in  ice  I  fear  I  can  never  reach  it. ' ' 

That  something  was  wrong  with  Dennis  any  friend  who 
cared  for  him  at  all  might  see.  The  Bruders  did,  and,  with 
the  quick  intuitions  of  woman,  Mrs.  Bruder  half  guessed  the 
cause.  Mr.  Bruder,  seeing  preoccupation  and  sometimes 
weary  apathy  in  Dennis's  face,  would  say,  "Mr.  Fleet  is 
not  well." 

Then,  as  even  this  slight  notice  of  his  different  appear- 
ance seemed  to  give  pain,  Mr.  Bruder  was  patiently  and 
kindly  blind  to  his  pupil's  inattention. 

Dennis  faithfully  kept  up  all  his  duties  on  Sunday  as 
during  the  week;  but  all  was  now  hard  work.  Some  little 
time  after  the  unlucky  morning  which  he  could  never  think 
of  without  an  expression  of  pain,  he  went  to  his  mission 
class  as  usual.  He  heard  his  boys  recite  their  lessons,  said  a 
few  poor  lame  words  in  explanation,  and  then  leaned  his  head 
listlessly  and  wearily  on  his  hand.  He  was  startled  by  hear- 
ing a  sweet  voice  say,  "Well,  Mr.  Fleet,  are  you  not  going 
to  welcome  a  new  laborer  into  your  corner  of  the  vineyard  ?" 

With  a  deep  flush  he  saw  that  Miss  Winthrop  was  in 
charge  of  the  class  next  to  him,  and  that  he  had  been 
oblivious  to  her  presence  nearly  an  hour.  He  tried  to 
apologize.  But  she  interrupted  him,  saying:  "Mr.  Fleet, 
you  are  not  well.  Any  one  can  see  that." 

Then  Dennis  blushed  as  if  he  had  a  raging  fever,  and  she 
was  perplexed. 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE  237 

The  closing  exercises  of  the  school  now  occupied  them, 
and  then  they  walked  out  together. 

"Mr.  Fleet,"  she  said,  "you  never  accepted  my  invita- 
tion. We  have  not  seen  you  at  our  house.  But  perhaps 
your  circle  of  friends  is  so  large  that  you  do  not  wish  to 
add  to  it." 

Dennis  could  not  forbear  a  smile  at  the  suggestion,  but 
he  said,  in  apology,  "I  do  not  visit  any  one,  save  a  gentle- 
man from  whom  I  am  taking  lessons." 

"Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  have  no  friends  at  all  in 
this  great  city  ?" 

"Well,  I  suppose  that  is  nearly  the  truth;  that  is,  in  the 
sense  you  use  the  term.  My  teacher  and  his  wife — " 

"Nonsense!  I  mean  friends  of  one's  own  age,  people  of 
the  same  culture  and  status  as  yourself.  I  think  we  require 
such  society,  as  truly  as  we  need  food  and  air.  I  did  not 
mean  those  whom  business  or  duty  brought  you  in  contact 
with,  or  who  are  friendly  or  grateful  as  a  matter  of 
course." 

"I  have  made  no  progress  since  my  introduction  to 
society  at  Miss  Brown's,"  said  Dennis. 

"But  you  had  the  sincere  and  cordial  offer  of  introduc- 
tion/' said  Miss  Winthrop,  looking  a  little  hurt. 

"I  feel  hardly  fit  for  society,"  said  Dennis,  all  out  of 
sorts  with  himself.  "It  seems  that  I  can  only  blunder  and 
give  pain.  But  I  am  indeed  grateful  for  your  kindness." 

Miss  Winthrop  looked  into  his  worn,  pale  face,  and  in- 
stinctively knew  that  something  was  wrong,  and  she  felt 
real  sympathy  for  the  lonely  young  man,  isolated  among 
thousands.  She  said,  gently  but  decidedly:  "I  did  mean 
my  invitation  kindly,  and  I  truly  wished  you  to  come. 
The  only  proof  you  can  give  that  you  appreciate  my  cour- 
tesy is  to  accept  an  invitation  for  to-morrow  evening.  I 
intend  having  a  little  musical  entertainment." 

Quick  as  light  flashed  the  thought,  "Christine  will  be 
there."  He  said,  promptly:  "I  will  come,  and  thank  you 
for  the  invitation.  If  I  am  awkward,  you  must  remember 


238  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

that  I  have  never  mingled  in  Chicago  society,  and  for  a 
long  time  not  in  any." 

She  smiled  merrily  at  him,  and  said,  "Don't  do  anything 
dreadful,  Mr.  Fleet." 

He  caught  her  mood,  and  asked  what  had  brought  her 
down  from  her  theological  peak  to  such  a  valley  of  humilia- 
tion as  a  mission  school. 

"You  and  Miss  Ludolph,"  she  answered,  seriously. 
"Between  you,  you  gave  me  such  a  lesson  that  afternoon 
at  Miss  Brown's  that  I  have  led  a  different  life  ever  since. 
Christine  made  all  as  dark  as  despair,  and  against  that  dark- 
ness you  placed  the  fiery  Cross.  I  have  tried  to  cling  to  the 
true  cross  ever  since.  Now  He  could  not  say  to  me,  'In- 
asmuch as  ye  did  it  not.?  And  oh  I"  said  she,  turning  to 
Dennis  with  a  smile  full  of  the  light  of  Heaven,  "His  service 
is  so  very  sweet!  I  heard  last  week  that  teachers  were 
wanted  at  this  mission  school,  so  I  came,  and  am  glad  to 
find  you  a  neighbor." 

Dennis's  face  also  kindled  at  her  enthusiasm,  but  after 
a  moment  grew  sad  again. 

"I  do  not  always  give  so  lifeless  a  lesson  as  to-day,"  he 
said,  in  a  low  voice. 

"Mr.  Fleet,  you  are  not  well.  I  can  see  that  you  look 
worn  and  greatly  wearied.  Are  you  not  in  some  way  over- 
taxing yourself?" 

Again  that  sensitive  flush,  but  he  only  said: ."I  assure 
you  I  am  well.  Perhaps  1  have  worked  a  little  hard.  That 
is  all." 

"Well,  then,  come  to  our  house  and  play  a  little  to- 
morrow evening,"  she  answered  from  the  platform  of  a 
street  car,  and  was  borne  away. 

Dennis  went  to  bis  lonely  room,  full  of  self-reproach. 

"Does  she  find  Christ's  service  so  sweet,  and  do  I  find  it 
so  dull  and  hard  ?  Does  human  love  alone  constrain  me,  and 
not  the  love  of  Christ  ?  Truly  I  am  growing  weak.  Every 
one  says  I  look  ill.  I  think  I  am,  in  body  and  soul,  and  am 
ceasing  to  be  a  man;  but  with  God's  help  i  will  be  one — 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE          239 

and  what  is  more,  a  Christian.  I  thank  you,  Miss  Win- 
throp;  you  have  helped  me  more  than  I  have  helped  you. 
I  will  accept  your  invitation  to  go  out  into  the  world.  I 
will  no  longer  mope,  brood,  and  perish  in  the  damp  and 
shade  of  my  own  sick  fancies.  If  I  cannot  win  her,  I  can 
at  least  be  a  man  without  her;"  and  he  felt  better  and 
stronger  than  he  had  done  for  a  long  time.  The  day  was 
breaking  again. 

In  accordance  with  a  custom  that  was  growing  with  him 
ever  since  the  memorable  evening  when  Bill  Cronk  be- 
friended him,  he  laid  the  whole  matter  before  his  Heavenly 
Father,  as  a  child  tells  an  earthly  parent  all  his  heart.  Then 
he  added  one  simple  prayer,  " Guide  me  in  all  things." 

The  next  day  was  brighter  and  better  than  its  fore- 
runners. "For  some  reason  I  feel  more  like  myself,"  he 
thought.  After  the  excitement  and  activity  of  a  busy  day, 
he  said,  "I  can  conquer  this,  if  I  must." 

But  when  he  had  made  his  simple  toilet,  and  was  on  his 
way  to  Miss  Winthrop's  residence,  his  heart  began  to  flutter 
strangely,  and  he  knew  the  reason.  Miss  Winthrop  wel- 
comed him  most  cordially,  and  put  him  at  his  ease  in  a 
moment,  as  only  a  true  lady  can.  Then  she  turned  to  re- 
ceive other  guests.  He  looked  around.  Christine  was  not 
there;  and  his  heart  sank  like  lead.  "She  will  not  be 
here, ' '  he  sighed.  But  the  guests  had  not  ceased  coming, 
and  every  new  arrival  caused  a  flutter  of  hopes  and  fears. 
He  both  longed  and  dreaded  to  meet  her.  At  last,  when  he 
had  almost  given  up  seeing  her,  suddenly  she  appeared^ 
advancing  up  the  parlor  on  her  father's  arm.  Never  had 
she  seemed  so  dazzlingly  beautiful.  He  was  just  then  talk- 
ing to  Mr.  Winthrop,  and  for  a  few  moments  that  gentle- 
man was  perplexed  at  his  incoherent  answers  and  the 
changes  in  his  face.  Having  paid  their  respects  to  the 
daughter,  Mr.  and  Miss  Ludolph  came  toward  Mr.  Win- 
throp, and  of  course  Dennis  had  to  meet  them.  Having 
greeted  them  warmly,  Mr.  Winthrop  said,  U0f  course  you 
do  not  need  an  introduction  to  Mr.  Fleet. " 


240  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

Dennis  had  shrunk  a  little  into  the  background,  and  at 
first  they  had  not  noticed  him.  Mr.  Ludolph  said,  good- 
naturedly,  "Glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Fleet,  and  will  be  still 
more  glad  to  hear  your  fine  voice." 

But  Christine  merely  bowed  as  to  one  with  whom  her 
acquaintance  was  slight,  and  turned  away.  At  first  Dennis 
had  blushed,  and  his  heart  had  fluttered  like  a  young  girl's; 
but,  as  she  turned  so  coolly  away,  his  native  pride  and  ob- 
stinacy were  aroused. 

"She  shall  speak  to  me  and  do  me  justice,"  he  muttered. 
"She  must  understand  that  I  spoke  unconsciously  on  that 
miserable  morning,  and  am  not  to  be  blamed.  As  I  am  a 
man,  I  will  speak  boldly  and  secure  recognition. ' '  But  as 
the  little  company  mingled  and  conversed  before  the  music 
commenced,  no  opportunity  offered.  He  determined  to  show 
her,  however,  that  he  was  no  country  boor,  and  with  skill 
and  taste  made  himself  agreeable. 

Christine  furtively  watched  him.  She  was  surprised  to 
see  him,  as  the  idea  of  meeting  him  in  society  as  an  equal 
had  scarcely  been  suggested  before.  But  when  she  saw  that 
he  greeted  one  after  another  with  grace  and  ease,  and  that 
all  seemed  to  enjoy  his  conversation,  so  that  a  little  knot 
of  Miss  Winthrop's  most  intelligent  guests  were  about  him 
at  last,  she  felt  that  it  would  be  no  great  condescension  on 
her  part  to  be  a  little  more  affable.  In  her  heart,  though, 
she  had  not  forgiven  the  unconscious  words  that  had  smit- 
ten to  the  ground  her  ambitious  hopes. 

Then  again,  his  appearance  deeply  interested  her.  A 
suppressed  excitement  and  power,  seen  in  the  glow  and 
fire  of  his  dark  eyes,  and  felt  in  his  tones,  stirred  her 
languid  pulses. 

"He  is  no  vapid  society-man,"  she  said  to  herself;  and 
her  artist  eye  was  gratified  by  the  changes  in  his  noble  face. 

"Look  at  Fleet,"  whispered  her  father;  "could  you  be- 
lieve he  was  sweeping  the  store  the  other  day  ?  Well,  if  we 
don't  find  out  his  worth  and  get  what  we  can  from  him,  the 
world  will.  We  ought  to  have  had  him  up  to  sing  before 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE  241 

this,  but  I  have  been  so  busy  since  your  illness  that  it 
slipped  my  mind." 

Miss  Winthrop  now  led  Christine  to  the  piano,  and  she 
played  a  classical  piece  of  music  in  faultless  taste.  Then 
followeed  duets,  solos,  quartets,  choruses,  and  instrumental 
pieces,  for  nearly  all  present  were  musical  amateurs.  Under 
the  inspiration  of  this  soul-stirring  art,  coldness  and  formal- 
ity melted  away,  and  with  jest  and  brilliant  repartee,  alter- 
nating with  song,  there  gathered  around  Miss  Winthrop's 
piano  such  a  group  as  could  never  grace  the  parlors  of  Miss 
Brown.  Sometimes  they  would  carry  a  new  and  difficult 
piece  triumphantly  through;  again  they  would  break  down, 
with  much  laughter  and  good-natured  rallying. 

Dennis,  as  a  stranger,  held  back  at  first;  but  those  who 
remembered  his  singing  at  the  tableau  party  were  clamor- 
ous to  hear  him  again,  and  they  tested  and  tried  his  voice 
during  the  evening  in  many  and  varied  ways.  But  he  held 
his  own,  and  won  greener  laurels  than  ever.  He  did  his 
very  best,  for  he  was  before  one  whom  he  would  rather 
please  than  all  the  world;  moreover,  her  presence  seemed 
to  inspire  him  to  do  better  than  when  alone.  Christine, 
like  the  others,  could  not  help  listening  with  delight  to  his 
rich,  clear  tenor,  and  Mr.  Ludolph  was  undisguised  in  his 
admiration. 

"I  declare,  Mr.  Fleet,  I  have  been  depriving  myself  of 
a  good  deal  of  pleasure.  I  meant  to  have  you  up  to  sing 
with  us  before,  but  we  have  been  under  such  a  press  of  busi- 
ness of  !&„„!  But  the  first  evening  I  am  disengaged  you 
must  surely  come." 

Christine  had  noticed  how  quietly  and  almost  indiffer- 
ently Dennis  had  taken  the  many  compliments  showered  on 
him  before,  but  now,  when  her  father  spoke,  his  face  flushed, 
and  a  sudden  light  came  into  his  eyes.  Dennis  had  thought, 
"I  can  then  see  and  speak  to  her."  Every  now  and  then 
she  caught  his  eager,  questioning,  and  almost  appealing 
glance,  but  he  made  no  advances.  "He  thinks  I  am  angry 
because  of  his  keen  criticism  of  my  picture.  For  the  sake 

KOE— Y— 11 


242  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

of  my  own  pride,  I  must  not  let  him  think  that  I  care  so 
much  about  his  opinion;"  and  Christine  resolved  to  let  some 
of  the  ice  thaw  that  had  formed  between  them.  Moreover, 
in  spite  of  herself,  when  she  was  thrown  into  his  society, 
he  greatly  interested  her.  He  seemed  to  have  just  what  she 
had  not.  He  could  meet  her  on  her  own  ground  in  matters 
of  taste,  and  then,  in  contrast  with  her  cold,  negative  life, 
he  was  so  earnest  and  positive.  "Perhaps  papa  spoke  for 
us  both,"  she  thought,  "and  I  have  been  depriving  myself 
of  a  pleasure  also,  for  he  certainly  interests  while  most  men 
only  weary  me." 

Between  ten  and  eleven  supper  was  announced;  not  the 
prodigal  abundance  under  which  the  brewer's  table  had 
groaned,  bu\  a  dainty,  elegant  little  affair,  which  inspired 
and  promoted  social  feeling,  though  the  "spirit  of  wine" 
was  absent.  The  eye  was  feasted  as  truly  as  the  palate. 
Christine  had  stood  near  Dennis  as  the  last  piece  was  sung, 
and  he  turned  and  said  in  a  low,  eager  tone,  "May  I  have 
the  pleasure  of  waiting  on  you  at  supper  ?' ' 

She  hesitated,  but  his  look  was  so  wistful  that  she  could 
not  well  refuse,  so  with  a  slight  smile  she  bowed  assent,  and 
placed  the  tips  of  her  little  gloved  hand  on  his  arm,  which 
so  trembled  that  she  looked  inquiringly  and  curiously  into 
his  face.  It  was  very  pale,  as  was  ever  the  case  when  he 
felt  deeply.  He  waited  on  her  politely  but  silently  at  first. 
She  sat  in  an  angle,  somewhat  apart  from  the  others.  As 
he  stood  by  her  side,  thinking  how  to  refer  to  the  morning 
in  the  show-room,  she  said:  "Mr.  Fleet,  you  are  not  eating 
anything,  and  you  look  as  if  you  had  been  living  on  air  of 
late — very  unlike  your  appearance  when  you  so  efficiently 
aided  me  in  the  rearrangement  of  the  store.  I  am  delighted 
that  you  keep  up  the  better  order  of  things. ' ' 

Dennis's  answer  was  quite  irrelevant. 

"Miss  Ludolph,"  he  said,  abruptly,  "I  saw  that  I  gave 
you  pain  that  morning  in  the  show-room.  If  you  only  knew 
how  the  thought  has  pained  me!" 

Christine  flushed  almost  angrily,  but  said,  coldly,  "Mr0 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE  243 

Fleet,  that  is  a  matter  you  can  never  understand,  therefore 
we  had  better  dismiss  the  subject." 

But  Dennis  had  determined  to  break  the  ice  between 
them  at  any  risk,  so  he  said,  firmly  but  respectfully: 
"Miss  Ludolph,  I  did  understand  all,  the  moment  I  saw 
your  face  that  day.  I  do  understand  how  you  have  felt 
since,  better  than  you  imagine." 

His  manner  and  words  were  so  assured  that  she  raised 
a  startled  face  to  his,  but  asked  coldly  and  in  an  indifferent 
manner,  "  What  can  you  know  of  my  feelings  ?" 

"I  know,"  said  Dennis,  in  a  low  tone,  looking  search- 
ingly  into  her  face,  from  which  cool  composure  was  fast 
fading — "I  know  your  dearest  hope  was  to  be  among  the 
first  in  art.  You  staked  that  hope  on  your  success  in  a 
painting  that  required  a  power  which  you  do  not  possess." 
Christine  became  very  pale,  but  from  her  eyes  shone  a  light 
before  which  most  men  would  have  quailed.  But  Dennis's 
love  was  so  true  and  strong  that  he  could  wound  her  for  the 
sake  of  the  healing  and  life  he  hoped  to  bring,  and  he  con- 
tinued— "On  that  morning  this  cherished  hope  for  the  future 
failed  you,  not  because  of  my  words,  but  because  your  artist 
eye  saw  that  my  words  were  true.  You  have  since  been 
unhappy — " 

"What  right  have  you — you  who  were  but  a  few  days 
since — who  are  a  stranger — what  right  have  you  to  speak 
thus  to  me?" 

"I  know  what  you  would  say,  Miss  Ludolph,"  he  an- 
swered, a  slight  flush  coming  into  his  pale  face.  "Friends 
may  be  humble  and  yet  true.  But  am  I  not  right?" 

"I  have  no  claim  on  your  friendship,"  said  Christine, 
coldly.  "But,  for  the  sake  of  argument,  grant  that  you  are 
right,  what  follows  ?' '  and  she  looked  at  him  more  eagerly 
than  she  knew.  She  felt  that  he  had  read  her  very  soul  and 
was  deeply  moved,  and  again  the  superstitious  feeling  crept 
over  her,  "That  young  man  is  in  some  way  connected  with 
my  destiny." 

Dennis  saw  his  power  and  proceeded  rapidly,  for  he 


244  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

knew  they  might  be  interrupted  at  any  moment;  and  so 
they  would  have  been  had  anything  less  interesting  than 
eating  occupied  the  attention  of  others. 

"I  saw  in  the  picture  what  in  your  eyes  and  mine  would 
be  a  fatal  defect — the  lack  of  life  and  true  feeling — the  lack 
of  power  to  live.  I  did  not  know  who  painted  it,  but  felt 
that  any  one  who  could  paint  as  well  as  that,  and  yet  leave 
out  the  soul,  as  it  were,  had  not  the  power  to  put  it  in. 
No  artist  of  such  ability  could  willingly  or  ignorantly  have 
permitted  such  a  defect." 

Christine's  eyes  sank,  their  fire  faded  out,  and  her  face 
had  the  pallor  of  one  listening  to  her  doom.  This  deeper 
feeling  mastered  the  momentary  resentment  against  the  hand 
that  was  wounding  her,  and  she  forgot  him,  and  all,  in  her 
pain  and  despair. 

In  a  low,  earnest  tone  Dennis  continued:  "But  since  I 
have  come  to  know  who  the  artist  is,  since  I  have  studied 
the  picture  more  fully,  and  have  taken  the  liberty  of  some 
observation" — Christine  hung  on  his  lips  breathlessly,  and 
Dennis  spoke  slowly,  marking  the  effect  of  every  word — "I 
have  come  to  the  decided  belief  that  the  lady  who  painted 
that  picture  can  reach  the  sphere  of  true  and  highest  art." 

The  light  that  stole  into  Christine's  face  under  his  slow, 
emphatic  words  was  like  a  rosy  dawn  in  June;  and  the 
thought  flashed  through  Dennis's  mind,  "If  an  earthly 
hope  can  so  light  up  her  face,  what  will  be  the  effect 
of  a  heavenly  one?" 

For  a  moment  she  sat  as  one  entranced,  looking  at  a 
picture  far  off  in  the  future.  His  words  had  been  so  earnest 
and  assured  that  they  seemed  reality.  Suddenly  she  turned 
on  him  a  look  as  grateful  and  happy  as  the  former  one  had 
been  full  of  pain  and  anger,  and  said:  "Ah,  do  not  deceive 
me,  do  not  flatter.  You  cannot  know  the  sweetness  and 
power  of  the  hope  you  are  inspiring.  To  be  disappointed 
again  would  be  death.  If  you  are  trifling  with  me  I  will 
never  forgive  you,"  she  added,  in  sudden  harshness,  her 
brow  darkening. 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE          245 

"Nor  should  I  deserve  to  be  forgiven  if  I  deceived  you 
in  a  matter  that  to  you  is  so  sacred." 

4 'But  how — how  am  I  to  gain  this  magic  power  to  make 
faces  feel  and  live  on  canvas?" 

"You  must  believe.     You  yourself  must  feel.'1 

She  looked  at  him  with  darkening  face,  and  then  in  a 
sudden  burst  of  passion  said:  "I  don't  believe;  I  can't 
feel.  All  this  is  mockery,  after  all." 

"No!"  said  Dennis,  in  the  deep,  assured  tone  that  ever 
calms  and  secures  attention.  "This  is  not  mockery.  I 
speak  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness.  You  do  not  be- 
lieve, but  that  is  not  the  same  as  cannot.  And  permit  me 
to  contradict  you  when  I  say  you  do  feel.  On  this  subject 
so  near  your  heart  you  feel  most  deeply — feel  as  I  never 
knew  any  one  feel  before.  This  proves  you  capable  of  feel- 
ing on  other  and  higher  subjects,  and  what  you  feel  your 
trained  and  skilful  hand  can  portray.  You  felt  on  the 
evening  of  that  miserable  day,  and  sang  as  I  never  heard 
you  sing  before.  Your  tones  then  would  move  any  heart, 
and  my  tears  fell  with  the  rain  in  sympathy:  I  could  not 
help  it." 

Her  bosom  rose  and  fell  tumultuously,  and  her  breath 
came  hard  and  quick. 

"Oh,  if  I  could  believe  you  were  right!'1 

"I  know  I  am  right,"  he  said,  so  decidedly  that  again 
hope  grew  rosy  and  beautiful  in  her  face. 

"Then  again/'  lie  continued,  eagerly,  "see  what  an 
advantage  you  have  over  the  most  of  us.  Your  power 
of  imitation  is  wonderful  You  can  copy  anything  you 
see." 

"Good- evening,  Miss  Lndolph.  Where  have  you  been 
hiding?  I  have  twice  made  the  tour  of  the  supper- room 
in  my  search/1  broke  in  the  voluble  Mr.  Mellen.  Then  he 
gave  Dennis  a  cool  stare,  who  acted  as  if  unconscious  of  his 
presence.  An  expression  of  disgust  flitted  across  Chris- 
tine's face  at  the  interruption,  or  the  person — perhaps  both 
— and  she  was  about  to  shake  him  off  that  Dennis  might 


246  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

speak  further,  when  Miss  Winthrop  and  others  came  up, 
and  there  was  a  general  movement  back  to  the  parlors. 

"Why,  Christine,  what  is  the  matter?"  asked  her  friend. 
44  You  look  as  if  you  had  a  fever.  What  has  Mr.  Fleet  been 
saying  ?' ' 

"Oh,  we  have  had  an  argument  on  my  hobby,  art,  and 
of  course  don't  agree,  and  so  got  excited  in  debate." 

Miss  Winthrop  glanced  keenly  at  them  and  said,  "I 
would  like  to  have  heard  it,  for  it  was  Greek  meeting 
Greek." 

"To  what  art  or  trade  did  Mr.  Fleet  refer?"  asked 
Mr.  Mellen,  with  an  insinuation  that  all  understood. 

"One  that  you  do  not  understand,"  said  Christine, 
keenly. 

The  petted  and  spoiled  millionaire  flushed  angrily  a 
moment,  and  then  said  with  a  bow:  "You  are  right.  Miss 
Ludolph.  Mr.  Fleet  is  acquainted  with  one  or  two  arts 
that  I  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  learning." 

"He  has  at  least  learned  the  art  of  being  a  gentleman," 
was  the  sharp  retort. 

The  young  man's  face  grew  darker,  and  he  said,  "From 
the  sweeping  nature  of  your  remarks,  I  perceive  that  Mr. 
Fleet  is  high  in  your  favor." 

"A  poor  pun  made  in  poorer  taste,"  was  all  the  comfort 
he  got  from  Christine. 

Dennis  was  naturally  of  a  very  jealous  disposition  where 
his  affections  were  concerned.  His  own  love  took  such  entire 
possession  of  him  that  he  could  not  brook  the  interference 
of  others,  or  sensibly  consider  that  they  had  the  same  privi- 
lege to  woo,  and  win  if  possible,  that  he  had.  Especially 
distasteful  to  him  was  this  rich  and  favored  youth,  whose 
presence  awakened  all  his  combativeness,  which  was  by  no 
means  small. 

Mr.  Mellen's  most  inopportune  interruption  and  covert 
taunts  provoked  him  beyond  endurance.  His  face  was 
fairly  white  with  rage,  and  for  a  moment  he  felt  that  he 
could  stamp  his  rival  out  of  existence.  In  the  low,  concen- 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE          247 

trated  voice  of  passion  he  said,  "If  Mr.  Mellen  should  lose 
his  property,  as  many  do,  I  gather  from  his  remarks  that 
he  would  still  keep  up  his  idea  of  a  gentleman  on  charity." 

Mr.  Mellen  flushed  to  the  roots  of  his  hair,  his  hands 
clenched.  In  the  flashing  eyes  and  threatening  faces  of  the 
young  men  those  witnessing  the  scene  foresaw  trouble.  A 
light  hand  fell  on  Dennis's  arm,  and  Miss  Winthrop  said, 
"Mr.  Fleet,  I  wish  to  show  you  a  picture,  and  ask  your 
judgment  in  regard  to  it. ' ' 

Dennis  understood  the  act,  and  in  a  moment  more  his 
face  was  crimson  with  shame. 

"Miss  Winthrop,  you  ought  to  send  me  home  at  once. 
I  told  you  I  was  unfit  for  society.  Somehow  I  am  not 
myself.  I  humbly  ask  your  pardon." 

"So  sincere  a  pentient  shall  receive  absolution  at  once. 
You  were  greatly  provoked.  I  trust  you  for  the  future." 

"You  may,"  was  the  emphatic  answer.  After  that 
pledge  Mr.  Mellen  might  have  struck  him  and  received 
no  more  .response  than  from  a  marble  statue. 

Mr.  Mellen  also  took -a  sober  second  thought,  remember- 
ing that  he  was  in  a  lady's  parlor.  He  walked  away  with 
his  ears  tingling,  for  the  flattered  youth  had  never  had  such 
an  experience  before.  The  few  who  witnessed  the  scene 
smiled  significantly,  as  did  Christine  half  contemptuously; 
but  Miss  Winthrop  soon  restored  serenity,  and  the  remain- 
ing hours  passed  away  in  music  and  dancing.  Christine 
did  not  speak  to  Dennis  again — that  is,  by  word  of  mouth 
— but  she  thought  of  him  constantly,  and  their  eyes  often 
met; — on  his  part  that  same  eager,  questioning  look.  She 
ever  turned  hers  at  once  away.  But  his  words  kept  repeat- 
ing themselves  continually,  especially  his  last  sentence,  when 
the  unlucky  Mr.  Mellen  had  broken  in  upon  them — "You 
can  copy  anything  you  see." 

"How  noble  and  expressive  of  varied  feeling  his  face 
is!"  she  thought,  watching  it  change  under  the  playful 
badinage  of  Miss  Winthrop. 

"How  I  would  like  to  copy  it!    Well,  you  can — 'You 


248  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

can  copy  anything  you  see.1  "  Then  like  a  flash  came  a 
suggestion — "You  can  make  him  love  you,  and  copy  feel- 
ing, passion,  life — from  the  living  face.  Whether  I  can 
believe  or  feel,  myself,  is  very  doubtful.  This  I  can  do: 
he  himself  said  so.  I  cannot  love,  myself — I  must  not;  I 
do  not  wish  to  now,  but  perhaps  I  can  inspire  love  in  him, 
and  then  make  his  face  a  study.  As  to  my  believing,  he 
can  never  know  how  utterly  impossible  his  faith  is  to 
me." 

Then  conscience  entered  a  mild  protest  against  the  cruelty 
of  the  project.  "Nonsense!"  she  said  to  herself;  "most  girls 
flirt  for  sport,  and  it  is  a  pity  if  I  cannot  with  such  a  pur- 
pose in  view.  He  will  soon  get  over  a  little  puncture  in  his 
heart  after  I  have  sailed  away  to  my  bright  future  beyond 
the  sea,  and  perhaps  Susie  will  comfort  him;"  and  she 
smiled  at  the  thought.  Dennis  saw  the  smile  and  was  en- 
tranced by  its  loveliness.  How  little  he  guessed  the  cause ! 

Having  resolved,  Christine  acted  promptly.  When  their 
eyes  again  met,  she  gave  him  a  slight  smile.  He  caught  it 
instantly  and  looked  bewildered,  as  if  he  could  not  believe 
his  eyes.  Again,  when  a  little  later,  at  the  urgent  request  of 
many,  he  sang  alone  for  the  first  time,  and  again  moved  his 
hearers  deeply  by  the  real  feeling  in  his  tones,  he  turned 
from  the  applause  of  all,  with  that  same  questioning  look, 
to  her.  She  smiled  an  encouragement  that  she  had  never 
given  him  before.  The  warm  blood  flooded  his  face  in- 
stantly. All  thought  that  it  was  the  general  chorus  of 
praise.  Christine  knew  that  she  had  caused  it,  and  sur- 
prise and  almost  exultation  came  into  her  face.  "I  half 
believe  he  loves  me  now,"  she  said.  She  threw  him  a  few 
more  kindly  smiles  from  time  to  time,  as  one  might  throw 
some  glittering  things  to  an  eager  child,  and  every  moment 
assured  her  of  her  power. 

"I  will  try  one  more  test,"  she  said,  and  by  a  little  effort 
she  lured  to  her  side  the  offended  Mr.  Mellen,  and  appeared 
much  pleased  by  his  attention.  Then  unmistakably  the  pain 
of  jealousy  was  stamped  on  Dennis's  face,  and  she  was  satis- 


DENNIS'S  LOVE  PUT  TO  PRACTICAL   USE  249 

fied.  Shaking  off  the  perplexed  Mr.  Mellen  again,  she  went 
to  the  recess  of  a  window  to  hide  her  look  of  exaltation. 

"The  poor  victim  loves  me  already,"  she  said.  "The 
mischief  is  done.  I  have  only  to  avail  myself  of  what  ex- 
ists from  no  fault  of  mine,  and  surely  I  ought  to;  otherwise 
the  passion  of  the  infatuated  youth  will  be  utterly  wasted, 
and  do  no  one  any  good. ' ' 

Thus  in  a  somewhat  novel  way  Christine  obtained  a  new 
master  in  painting,  and  poor  Dennis  and  his  love  were  put 
to  use  somewhat  as  a  human  subject  might  be  if  dissected 
alive. 


250  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  XXX 

THE     TWO      HEIGHTS 

DENNIS  went  home  in  a  strange  tumult  of  hopes  and 
fears,  but  hope  predominated,  for  evidently  she 
cared  little  for  Mr.  Mellen.  "The  ice  is  broken  at 
last,"  he  said.  It  was,  but  he  was  like  to  fall  through 
into  a  very  cold  bath,  though  he  knew  it  not.  He  was  far 
too  excited  to  sleep,  and  sat  by  his  open  window  till  the 
warm  June  night  grew  pale  with  the  light  of  coming  day. 

Suddenly  a  bright  thought  struck  him;  a  moment  more 
and  it  became  an  earnest  purpose.  "I  think  I  can  paint 
something  that  may  express  to  her  what  I  dare  not  put  in 
words." 

He  immediately  went  up  into  the  loft  and  prepared  a 
large  frame,  so  proportioned  that  two  pictures  could  be 
painted  side  by  side,  one  explanatory  and  an  advance  upon 
the  other.  He  stretched  his  canvas  over  this,  and  sketched 
and  outlined  rapidly  under  the  inspiration  of  his  happy 
thought. 

Christine  came  with  her  father  to  the  store,  as  had  been 
her  former  custom,  and  her  face  had  its  old  expression. 
The  listless,  disappointed  look  was  gone.  She  passed  on, 
not  appearing  to  see  him  while  with  her  father,  and  Den- 
nis's heart  sank  again.  "She  surely  knew  where  to  look 
for  me  if  she  cared  to  look,"  he  said  to  himself.  Soon 
after  he  went  to  the  upper  show-room  to  see  to  the  hanging 
of  a  new  picture. 

"I  am  so  glad  your  taste,  instead  of  old  Schwartz's 
mathematics,  has  charge  of  this  department  now, ' '  said  a 
honeyed  voice  at  his  side.  He  was  startled  greatly. 


THE    TWO    HEIGHTS  251 

11  What  is  the  matter?  Are  you  nervous,  Mr.  Fleet?  I 
had  no  idea  that  a  lady  could  so  frighten  you." 

He  was  blushing  like  a  girl,  but  said,  "I  have  read  that 
something  within,  rather  than  anything  without,  makes  us 
cowards." 

"Ah,  then  you  confess  to  a  guilty  conscience?"  she  re- 
plied, with  a  twinkle  in  her  eye. 

44I  do  not  think  I  shall  confess  at  all  till  I  have  a  merci- 
ful confessor,"  said  Dennis,  conscious  of  a  deeper  meaning 
than  his  light  words  might  convey. 

"  'The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained,'  therefore  it  is 
unfit  for  my  use.  I'll  none  of  it,  but  for  each  offence  im- 
pose unlimited  penance." 

4 'But  suppose  one  must  sin  ?" 

"He  must  take  the  consequences  then.  Even  your  hu- 
mane religion  teaches  that;"  and  with  this  parting  arrow 
she  vanished,  leaving  him  too  excited  to  hang  his  picture 
straight. 

It  all  seemed  a  bewildering  dream.  Being  so  thoroughly 
taken  by  surprise  and  off  his  guard,  he  had  said  far  more 
than  he  meant.  But  had  she  understood  him  ?  Yes,  better 
than  he  had  himself,  and  laughed  at  his  answers  with  their 
covert  meanings. 

She  spent  the  next  two  days  in  sketching  and  outlining 
his  various  expressions  as  far  as  possible  from  memory. 
She  would  learn  to  catch  those  evanescent  lines — that 
something  which  makes  the  human  face  eloquent,  though 
the  lips  are  silent. 

Dennis  was  in  a  maze,  but  he  repeated  to  himself  jubi- 
lantly again,  "The  ice  is  broken."  That  evening  at  Mr. 
Bruder's  he  asked  for  studies  in  ice. 

"Vy,  dat  is  out  of  season,"  said  Mr.  Bruder,  with  a 
laugh. 

4tNo,  now  is  just  the  time.  It  is  a  nice  cool  subject  for 
this  hot  weather.  Please  oblige  me;  for  certain  reasons  I 
wish  to  be  able  to  paint  ice  perfectly." 

Arctic  scenery  was  Mr.  Bruder's  forte,  on  which  he  spe- 


252  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

cially  prided  himself.  He  was  too  much  of  a  gentleman  to 
ask  questions,  and  was  delighted  to  find  the  old  zest  return- 
ing in  his  pupil.  They  were  soon  constructing  bergs,  caves, 
and  grottoes  of  cold  blue  ice.  Evening  after  evening,  while 
sufficient  light  lasted,  they  worked  at  this  study.  Dennis's 
whole  soul  seemed  bent  on  the  formation  of  ice.  After  a 
month  of  labor  Mr.  Bruder  said,  "I  hope  you  vill  get  over 
dis  by  fall,  or  ve  all  freeze  to  death. ' ' 

"One  of  these  days  I  shall  explain,"  said  Dennis, 
smiling. 

The  evening  of  the  second  day  after  the  little  rencounter 
in  the  show-room,  Mr.  Ludolph  sat  enjoying  his  cigar,  and 
Christine  was  at  the  piano  playing  a  difficult  piece  of  music. 

"Come,  father,"  she  said,  "here  is  a  fine  thing  just  from 
Germany.  There  is  a  splendid  tenor  solo  in  it,  and  I  want 
you  to  sing  it  for  me." 

"Pshaw!"  said  her  father,  "why  did  I  not  think  of  it 
before?"  and  he  rang  the  bell.  "Here,  Brandt,  go  down  to 
the  store,  and  if  Mr.  Fleet  is  there  ask  him  if  he  will  come 
up  to  my  rooms  for  a  little  while." 

Brandt  met  Dennis  just  starting  for  his  painting  lesson, 
but  led  him  a  willing  captive,  to  give  Christine  instruction 
unconsciously. 

She,  whose  strategy  had  brought  it  all  about,  smiled  at 
her  success.  It  was  not  her  father's  tenor  she  wanted,  but 
Dennis's  face;  and  her  father  should  unknowingly  work 
her  will.  The  girl  had  learned  so  much  from  the  wily  man 
of  the  world  that  she  was  becoming  his  master. 

Dennis  came  and  entered  with  a  thrill  of  delight  what 
was  to  him  enchanted  ground.  Mr.  Ludolph  was  affable, 
Christine  kind,  but  she  looked  more  than  she  said. 

Dennis  sang  the  solo,  after  one  or  two  efforts,  correctly. 
Then  Mr.  Ludolph  brought  out  a  piece  of  music  that  he 
wished  to  try;  Christine  found  others;  and  before  they 
knew  it  the  evening  had  passed.  Quite  a  knot  of  delighted 
listeners  gathered  in  the  street  opposite.  This  Christine 
pointed  out  to  her  father  with  evident  annoyance. 


THE    TWO   HEIGHTS  253 

"Well,  my  dear,"  he  said,  "hotel  life  in  a  crowded  city 
renders  escape  from  such  things  impossible." 

But  a  purpose  was  growing  in  her  mind  of  which  she 
spoke  soon  after.  Throughout  the  evening  she  had  studied 
Dennis's  face  as  much  as  she  could  without  attracting  no- 
tice, and  the  thought  grew  upon  her  that  at  last  she  had 
found  a  path  to  the  success  she  so  craved. 

"You  seem  to  have  gone  to  work  with  your  old  interest, " 
said  her  father,  as  he  came  out  of  his  room  the  next  morn- 
ing and  found  Christine  at  her  easel. 

"I  shall  try  it  again,"  she  said,  briefly. 

"That  is  right,"  said  he.  "The  idea  of  being  daunted 
by  one  partial  failure !  I  predict  for  you  such  success  as 
will  satisfy  even  your  fastidious  taste." 

"  We  shall  see, "  she  said.  "I  hope,  too."  Butshewould 
not  have  her  father  know  on  what  grounds.  He  might  re- 
gard the  experiment  as  a  dangerous  one  for  herself  as  well 
as  for  Dennis,  and  she  decided  to  keep  her  plan  entirely 
secret. 

She  now  came  to  the  store  daily,  and  rarely  went  away 
without  giving  Dennis  a  smile  or  word  of  recognition.  Bat 
he  noticed  that  she  ever  did  this  in  a  casual  manner,  and 
in  a  way  that  would  not  attract  attention.  He  also  took 
the  hint,  and  never  was  obtrusive  or  demonstrative,  but  it 
was  harder  work  for  his  frank  nature.  When  unobserved, 
his  glances  grew  more  ardent  day  by  day.  So  far  from 
checking  these,  she  encouraged  them,  but,  when  in  any 
way  he  sought  to  put  his  feelings  into  words,  she  changed 
the  subject  instantly  and  decidedly.  This  puzzled  him,  for 
he  did  not  understand  that  looks  could  be  painted,  but 
not  words.  The  latter  were  of  no  use  to  her.  But  she  led 
him  on  skilfully,  and,  from  the  unbounded  power  his  love 
gave  her,  played  upon  his  feelings  as  adroitly  as  she  touched 
her  grand  piano. 

Soon  after  the  company  at  Miss  Winthrop's,  she  said  to 
him,  "You  received  several  invitations  the  other  evening, 
did  you  not?" 


254  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

"Yes." 

"Accept  them.     Go  into  society.     It  will  do  you  good. 

Thus  he  soon  found  himself  involved  in  a  round  of  so- 
ciables, musicales,  and  now  and  then  a  large  party.  Chris- 
tine was  usually  present,  radiant,  brilliant,  the  cynosure 
of  all  eyes,  but  ever  coolly  self-possessed.  At  first  she 
would  greet  him  with  distant  politeness,  or  pretend  not 
to  see  him  at  all,  but  before  the  evening  was  over  would 
manage  to  give  him  a  half-hour  in  which  she  would  be 
kind  and  even  gentle  at  times,  but  very  observant.  Then 
for  the  rest  of  the  evening  he  would  find  no  chance  to 
approach.  It  appeared  that  she  was  deeply  interested  in 
him,  enjoyed  his  society,  and  was  even  becoming  attached 
to  him,  but  that  for  some  reason  she  determined  that 
no  one  should  notice  this,  and  that  matters  should  only 
go  so  far.  Poor  Dennis  could  not  know  that  he  was  only 
her  unconscious  instructor  in  painting,  paid  solely  in  the 
coin  of  false  smiles  and  delusive  hopes.  At  times,  though, 
she  would  torture  him  dreadfully.  Selecting  one  of  her 
many  admirers,  she  would  seem  to  smile  upon  his  suit, 
and  poor  Dennis  would  writhe  in  all  the  agonies  of  jealousy, 
for  he  was  very  human,  and  had  all  the  normal  feeling  of  a 
strong  man.  She  would  then  watch  his  face  grow  pale  and 
his  manner  restless,  as  quietly  and  critically  as  an  entomol- 
ogist regards  the  struggles  of  an  insect  beneath  his  micro- 
scope. Again,  she  would  come  to  him  all  grace  and 
sweetness,  and  his  fine  face  would  light  up  with  hope 
and  pleasure.  She  would  say  honeyed  nothings,  but 
study  him  just  as  coolly  in  another  aspect. 

Thus  she  kept  him  hot  and  cold  by  turns — now  lifting 
him  to  the  pinnacle  of  hope,  again  casting  him  down  into 
the  valley  of  fear  and  doubt.  What  she  wanted  of  him  was 
just  what  she  had  not — feeling,  intense,  varied  feeling,  so 
that,  while  she  remained  ice,  she  could  paint  as  if  she  felt; 
and  with  a  gifted  woman's  tact,  and  with  the  power  of  one 
loved  almost  to  idolatry,  she  caused  every  chord  of  his  soul, 
now  in  happy  harmony,  now  in  painful  discord,  to  vibrate 


THE    TWO   HEIGHTS 

under  her  skilful  touch.  But  such  a  life  was  very  wearing, 
and  he  was  failing  under  it.  Moreover,  he  was  robbing  him- 
self of  sleep  in  the  early  morning,  that  he  might  work  on 
his  picture  in  the  loft  of  the  store,  for  which  he  asked  of 
poor  Mr.  Bruder  nothing  but  ice. 

Mrs.  Bruder  worried  over  him  continually. 

"You  vork  too  hart.  Vat  shall  ve  do  for  you  ?  Oh,  my 
fren,  if  you  love  us  do  not  vork  so  hart,"  she  would  often 
say.  But  Dennis  would  only  smile  and  turn  to  her  husband 
in  his  insatiable  demand  for  painted  ice.  At  last  Mr.  Bru- 
der said,  "Mr.  Fleet,  you  can  paint  ice,  as  far  as  I  see,  as 
veil  as  myself." 

Then  Dennis  turned  around  short  and  said,  "Now  I  want 
warm  rosy  light  and  foliage ;  give  me  studies  in  these. ' ' 

"By  de  hammer  of  Thor,  but  you  go  to  extremes." 

"You  shall  know  all  someday,"  said  Dennis,  entering 
on  his  new  tasks  with  increasing  eagerness. 

But  day  by  day  he  grew  thinner  and  paler.  Even  Chris- 
tine's heart  sometimes  relented;  for,  absorbed  as  she  was 
in  her  own  work  and  interests,  she  could  not  help  noticing 
how  sadly  he  differed  from  the  vigorous  youth  who  had 
lifted  the  heavy  pictures  for  her  but  a  few  short  weeks 
ago.  But  she  quieted. herself  by  the  thought  that  he  was 
a  better  artistic  subject,  and  that  he  would  mend  again 
when  the  cool  weather  came. 

"Where  shall  we  go  for  the  two  hot  months?"  asked 
her  father  the  morning  after  the  Fourth. 

"I  have  a  plan  to  propose,"  replied  Christine.  "Suppose 
we  go  to  housekeeping." 

"What!"  said  her  father,  dropping  his  knife  and  fork, 
and  looking  at  her  in  astonishment.  "Go  to  all  the  ex- 
pense of  furnishing  a  house,  when  we  do  not  expect  to 
stay  here  much  more  than  a  year  ?  We  should  hardly  be 
settled  before  we  left  it." 

"Listen  to  me  patiently  till  I  finish,  and  then  I  will  abide 
"by  your  decision.  But  I  think  you  will  give  me  credit  for 
having  a  slight  turn  for  business  as  well  as  art.  You  re- 


256  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

member  Mr.  Jones's  beautiful  house  on  the  north  side, 
do  you  not?  It  stands  on  Street,  well  back,  sur- 
rounded by  a  lawn  and  flowers.  There  is  only  one  other 
house  on  the  block.  Well,  Mr.  Jones  is  embarrassed,  and 
his  house  is  for  sale.  From  inquiry  I  am  satisfied  that  a 
cash  offer  would  obtain  the  property  cheaply.  The  furni- 
ture is  good,  and  much  of  it  elegant.  What  we  do  not 
want — what  will  not  accord  with  a  tasteful  refurnishing — 
can  be  sent  to  an  auction-room.  At  comparatively  slight 
expense,  if  you  can  spare  Mr.  Fleet  to  help  me  during  the 
time  when  business  is  dull,  I  can  make  the  house  such 
a  gem  of  artistic  elegance  that  it  will  be  noted  throughout 
the  city,  and  next  fall  some  rich  snob,  seeking  to  vault 
suddenly  into  social  position,  will  give  just  what  you  are 
pleased  to  ask.  In  the  meantime  we  have  a  retired  and 
delightful  home. 

4 'Moreover,  father,"  she  continued,  touching  him  on  his 
weak  side,  "it  will  be  a  good  preparation  for  the  more  diffi- 
cult and  important  work  of  the  same  kind  awaiting  me  in 
my  own  land." 

"Humph!"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  meditatively,  "there  is 
more  method  in  your  madness  than  I  imagined.  I  will 
think  of  it,  for  it  is  too  important  a  step  to  be  taken 
hastily." 

Mr.  Ludolph  did  think  of  it,  and,  after  attending  to 
pressing  matters  in  the  store,  went  over  to  see  the  prop- 
erty. A  few  days  afterward  he  came  up  to  dinner  and 
threw  the  deed  for  it  into  his  daughter's  lap.  She  glanced 
it  over,  and  her  eyes  grew  luminous  with  delight  and 
triumph. 

"See  how  comfortable  and  happy  I  will  make  you  in 
return  for  this  kindness,"  she  said. 

"Oh,  come,"  replied  her  father,  laughing,  "that  is  not 
the  point.  This  is  a  speculation,  and  your  business  repu- 
tation is  at  stake." 

"I  will  abide  the  test,"  she  answered,  with  a  significant 
nod. 


THE    TWO    HEIGHTS  257 

Christine  desired  the  change  for  several  reasons.  There 
was  a  room  in  the  house  that  would  just  suit  her  as  a  studio. 
She  detested  the  publicity  of  a  hotel.  The  furnishing  of  an 
elegant  house  was  a  form  of  activity  most  pleasing  to  her 
energetic  nature,  and  she  felt  a  very  strong  wish  to  try  her 
skill  in  varied  effect  before  her  grand  effort  in  the  Ludolph 
Hall  of  the  future. 

But  in  addition  to  these  motives  was  another,  of  which 
she  did  not  speak  to  her  father.  In  the  privacy  of  her  own 
home  she  could  pursue  that  peculiar  phase  of  art  study  in 
which  she  was  absorbed.  Her  life  had  now  become  a  most 
exciting  one.  She  ever  seemed  on  the  point  of  obtaining 
the  power  to  portray  the  eloquence  of  passion,  feeling,  but 
there  was  a  subtile  something  that  still  eluded  her.  She 
saw  it  daily,  and  yet  could  not  reproduce  it.  She  seemed 
to  get  the  features  right,  and  yet  they  were  dead,  or  else 
the  emotion  was  so  exaggerated  as  to  suggest  weak  senti- 
mentality, and  this  of  all  things  disgusted  her.  Every  day 
she  studied  the  expressive  face  of  Dennis  Fleet,  the  mys- 
terious power  seemed  nearer  her  grasp.  Her  effort  was 
now  gaining  all  the  excitement  of  a  chase.  She  saw  before 
her  just  what  she  wanted,  and  it  seemed  that  she  had  only 
to  grasp  her  pencil  or  brush,  and  place  the  fleeting  expres- 
sions where  they  might  always  appeal  to  the  sympathy  of 
the  beholder.  Nearly  all  her  studies  now  were  the  human 
face  and  form,  mainly  those  of  ladies,  to  disarm  suspicion. 
Of  course  she  took  no  distinct  likeness  of  Dennis.  She 
sought  only  to  paint  what  his  face  expressed.  At  times 
she  seemed  about  to  succeed,  and  excitement  brought  color 
to  her  cheek  and  fire  to  her  eye  that  made  her  dazzlingly 
beautiful  to  poor  Dennis.  Then  she  would  smile  upon  him 
in  such  a  bewitching,  encouraging  way  that  it  was  little 
wonder  his  face  lighted  up  with  all  the  glory  of  hope. 

If  once  more  she  could  have  him  about  her  as  when  rear- 
ranging the  store,  and,  without  the  restraint  of  curious  eyes, 
could  play  upon  his  heart,  then  pass  at  once  to  her  easel 
with  the  vivid  impression  of  what  she  saw,  she  might  catch 


258  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

the  coveted  power,  and  become  able  to  portray,  as  if  she  felt, 
that  which  is  the  inspiration  of  all  the  highest  forms  of  art — 
feeling. 

That  evening,  Dennis,  at  Mr.  Ludolph's  request,  came  to 
the  hotel  to  try  some  new  music.  During  the  evening  Mr. 
Ludolph  was  called  out  for  a  little  time.  Availing  himself 
of  the  opportunity,  Dennis  said,  "You  seem  to  be  working 
with  all  your  old  zest  and  hope." 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "with  greater  hope  than  ever  be- 
fore." 

"Won't  you  show  me  something  that  you  are  doing?" 

"No,  not  yet.  I  am  determined  that  when  you  see  work 
of  mine  again  the  fatal  defect  which  you  pointed  out  shall 
be  absent. ' ' 

His  eyes  and  face  became  eloquent  with  the  hope  she 
inspired.  Was  her  heart,  awakening  from  its  long  winter 
of  doubt  and  indifference,  teaching  her  to  paint  ?  Had  she 
recognized  the  truth  of  his  assurance  that  she  must  feel,  and 
then  she  could  portray  feeling  ?  and  had  she  read  in  his  face 
and  manner  that  which  had  created  a  kindred  impulse  in  her 
heart  ?  He  was  about  to  speak,  the  ice  of  his  reserve  and 
prudence  fast  melting  under  what  seemed  good  evidence 
that  her  smiles  and  kindness  might  be  interpreted  in  accord- 
ance with  his  longings.  She  saw  and  anticipated. 

"With  all  your  cleverness,  Mr.  Fleet,  I  may  prove  you 
at  fault,  and  become  able  to  portray  what  I  do  not  feel  or 
believe. ' ' 

"You  mean  to  say  that  you  work  from  your  old  stand- 
point merely  ?"  asked  Dennis,  feeling  as  if  a  sunny  sky  had 
suddenly  darkened. 

"I  do  not  say  that  at  all,  but  that  I  do  not  work  from 
yours. ' ' 

"And  yet  you  hope  to  succeed  ?" 

"I  think  I  am  succeeding." 

Perplexity  and  disappointment  were  plainly  written  on 
his  face.  She,  with  a  merry  and  half-malicious  laugh, 
turned  to  the  piano,  and  sung: 


THE    TWO   HEIGHTS  259 

From  Mount  Olympus'  snowy  height 

The  gods  look  down  on  human  life: 
Beneath  contending  armies  fight; 

All  undisturbed  they  watch  the  strife. 

Dennis  looked  at  her  earnestly,  and  after  a  moment  said, 
44  Will  you  please  play  that  accompaniment  again  ?" 
She  complied,  and  he  sang: 

Your  Mount  Olympus'  icy  peak 
Is  barren  waste,  by  cold  winds  swept: 

Another  height  I  gladly  see, 

"Where  God  o'er  human  sorrow  wept. 

She  turned  a  startled  and  almost  wistful  face  to  him,  for 
he  had  given  a  very  unexpected  answer  to  her  cold,  selfish 
philosophy,  which  was  so  apt  and  sudden  as  to  seem  almost 
inspired. 

"Do  you  refer  to  Christ's  weeping  over  Jerusalem  ?"  she 
asked. 

"Yes." 

She  sat  for  a  little  time  silent  and  thoughtful,  and  Den- 
nis watched  her  keenly.  Suddenly  her  brow  darkened,  and 
she  said,  bitterly:  "Delusion!  If  He  had  been  a  God  He 
would  not  have  idly  wept  over  sorrow.  He  would  have 
banished  it." 

Dennis  was  about  to  reply  eagerly,  when  Mr.  Ludolph 
entered,  and  music  was  resumed.  But  it  was  evident  that 
Dennis's  lines  had  disturbed  the  fair  sceptic's  equanimity. 


260  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

BEGUILED  « 

DENNIS  returned  to  his  room  greatly  perplexed. 
There  was  something  in  Christine's  actions  which 
he  could  not  understand.  From  the  time  of  their 
first  conversation  at  Miss  Winthrop's,  she  had  evidently  felt 
and  acted  differently.  If  her  heart  remained  cold  and  un- 
touched, if  as  yet  neither  faith  nor  love  had  any  existence 
therein,  what  was  the  inspiring  motive?  Why  should  deep 
discouragement  change  suddenly  to  assured  hope  ? 

Then  again  her  manner  was  equally  inexplicable.  From 
that  same  evening  she  gave  him  more  encouragement  than 
he  had  even  hoped  to  receive  for  months,  but  yet  he  made 
no  progress.  She  seemed  to  enjoy  meeting  him,  and  con- 
stantly found  opportunity  to  do  so.  Her  eyes  were  con- 
tinually seeking  his  face,  but  there  was  something  in  her 
manner  in  this  respect  that  puzzled  him  more  than  any- 
thing else.  She  often  seemed  looking  at  his  face,  rather 
than  at  him.  At  first  Christine  had  been  furtive  and  care- 
ful in  her  observations,  but  as  the  habit  grew  upon  her,  and 
her  interest  increased,  she  would  sometimes  gaze  so  steadily 
that  poor  Dennis  was  deeply  embarrassed.  Becoming  con- 
scious of  this,  she  would  herself  color  slightly,  and  be  more 
careful  for  a  time. 

In  her  eagerness  for  success,  Christine  did  not  realize 
how  dangerous  an  experiment  she  was  trying.  She  could 
not  look  upon  such  a  face  as  Dennis  Fleet's,  eloquent  with 
that  which  should  never  fail  to  touch  a  woman's  heart  with 


BEGUILED  261 

sympathy,  and  then  forget  it  when  she  chose.  Moreover, 
though  she  knew  it  not,  in  addition  to  her  interest  in  him 
as  an  art  study,  his  strong,  positive  nature  affected  her  cool, 
negative  one  most  pleasantly.  His  earnest  manifested  feel- 
ing fell  like  sunlight  on  a  heart  benumbed  with  cold. 

Thus,  under  the  stimulus  of  his  presence,  she  found  that 
she  could  paint  or  sketch  to  much  better  purpose  than  when 
alone.  This  knowledge  made  her  rejoice  in  secret  over  the 
opportunity  she  could  now  have,  as  Dennis  again  assisted 
her  in  hanging  pictures,  and  affixing  to  the  walls  ornaments 
of  various  kinds. 

Coming  to  him  one  morning  in  the  store,  she  said,  lll  am 
going  to  ask  a  favor  of  you  again. ' ' 

Dennis  looked  as  if  she  were  conferring  the  greatest  of 
favors.  His  face  always  lighted  up  when  she  spoke  to  him. 

4 'It  is  very  kind  of  you  to  ask  so  pleasantly  for  what  you 
can  command,"  he  said. 

44  To  something  of  the  same  effect  you  answered  before, 
and  the  result  was  the  disagreeable  experience  at  Miss 
Brown's." 

Dennis's  brow  contracted  a  little,  but  he  said,  heroically, 
"I  will  go  to  Miss  Brown's  again  if  you  wish  it" 

"How  self-sacrificing  you  are!"  she  replied,  with  a  half- 
mischievous  smile. 

"Not  as  much  so  as  you  imagine,7'  he  answered,  flushing 
slightly. 

"Well,  set  your  mind  at  rest  on  that  score.  Though  not 
very  merciful,  as  you  know,  I  would  put  no  poor  soul  through 
that  ordeal  again.  In  this  case  you  will  only  have  to  encoun- 
ter one  of  the  tormentors  you  met  on  that  occasion,  and  I 
will  try  to  vouch  for  her  better  behavior."  Then  she  added, 
seriously:  "I  hope  you  will  not  think  the  task  beneath  you. 
You  do  not  seem  to  have  much  of  the  foolish  pride  that 
stands  in  the  way  of  so  many  Americans,  and  then" — look- 
ing at  him  with  a  pleading  face — "I  have  so  set  my  heart 
upon  it,  and  it  would  be  such  a  disappointment  if  you  were 
unwilling  I11 


262  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

"You  need  waste  no  more  ammunition  on  one  ready  to 
surrender  at  discretion,"  he  said. 

"Very  well;  then  I  shall  treat  you  with  all  the  rigors  of 
a  prisoner  of  war.  I  shall  carry  you  away  captive  to  my 
new  castle  on  the  north  side  and  put  you  at  your  old  menial 
task  of  hanging  pictures  and  decorating  in  various  ways. 
As  eastern  sovereigns  built  their  palaces  and  adorned  their 
cities  by  the  labors  of  those  whom  the  fortunes  of  war  threw 
into  their  hands,  so  your  skill  and  taste  shall  be  useful  to 
me;  and  I,  your  head  task-mistress,"  she  added,  with  her 
insinuating  smile,  "will  be  ever  present  to  see  that  there 
is  no  idling,  nothing  but  monotonous  toil.  Had  you  not 
better  have  stood  longer  in  the  defensive?" 

Dennis  held  out  his  hands  in  mock  humility  and  said: 
<ll  am  ready  for  my  chains.  You  shall  see  with  what  forti- 
tude I  endure  my  captivity." 

"It  is  well  that  you  should  show  it  somewhere,  for  you 
have  not  done  so  in  your  resistance.  But  I  parole  you  on 
your  honor,  to  report  at  such  times  as  I  shall  indicate  and 
papa  can  spare  you;"  and  with  a  smile  and  a  lingering  look 
that  seemed,  as  before,  directed  to  his  face  rather  than  him- 
self, she  passed  out. 

That  peculiar  look  often  puzzled  him,  and  at  times  he 
would  go  to  a  glass  and  see  if  there  was  anything  wrong  or 
unusual  in  his  appearance.  But  now  his  hopes  rose  higher 
than  ever.  She  had  been  very  gracious,  certainly,  and  in- 
vited intimate  companionship.  Dennis  felt  that  she  must 
have  read  his  feelings  in  his  face  and  manner,  and,  to  his 
ingenuous  nature,  any  encouragement  seemed  to  promise 
all  he  hoped. 

For  a  week  after  this  he  scarcely  saw  her,  for  she  was 
very  busy  making  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  occu- 
pation of  her  new  home.  But  one  afternoon  she  suddenly 
appeared,  and  said,  with  affected  severity,  "Keport  to-mor- 
row at  nine  A.M." 

Dennis  bowed  humbly.  She  gave  him  a  pleasant  smile 
over  her  shoulder,  and  passed  away  as  quickly  as  she  had 


BEGUILED  263 

come  It  seemed  like  a  vision  to  him,  and  only  a  trace  of 
her  favorite  perfume  (which  indeed  ever  seemed  more  an 
atmosphere  than  a  perfume)  remained  as  evidence  that  she 
had  been  there. 

At  five  minutes  before  the  time  on  the  following  day  he 
appeared  at  the  new  Ludolph  mansion.  From  an  open  win- 
dow  Christine  beckoned  him  to  enter,  and  welcomed  him 
with  characteristic  words — "In  view  of  your  foolish  sur- 
render to  my  power,  remember  that  you  have  no  rights 
that  I  am  bound  to  respect." 

"I  throw  myself  on  your  mercy." 

"I  have  already  told  you  that  I  do  not  possess  that  trait; 
so  prepare  for  the  worst." 

She  was  dressed  in  some  light  summer  fabric,  and  her 
rounded  arms  and  neck  were  partially  bare.  She  looked  so 
white  and  cool,  so  self-possessed,  and,  with  all  her  smiles, 
so  devoid  of  warm  human  feeling,  that  Dennis  felt  a  sudden 
chill  at  heart.  The  ancient  fable  of  the  sirens  occurred  to 
him.  Might  she  not  be  luring  him  on  to  his  own  destruc- 
tion ?  At  times  he  almost  hoped  that  she  loved  him;  again, 
something  in  her  manner  caused  him  to  doubt  everything. 
But  there  were  not,  as  in  the  case  of  Ulysses  and  his  crew, 
friendly  hands  to  bind  and  restrain,  or  to  put  wax  in  his 
ears,  and  soon  the  music  of  her  voice,  the  strong  enchant- 
ment of  the  love  she  had  inspired,  banished  all  thought 
of  prudence.  His  passion  was  now  becoming  a  species  of 
intoxication,  a  continued  and  feverish  excitement,  and  its 
influence  was  unhappy  on  mind  and  body.  There  was  no 
rest,  peace,  or  assurance  in  it,  and  the  uncertainty,  the  tan- 
talizing inability  to  obtain  a  definite  satisfying  word,  and 
yet  the  apparent  nearness  of  the  prize,  wore  upon  him. 
Sometimes,  when  late  at  night  he  sat  brooding  over  his 
last  interview,  weighing  with  the  nice  scale  of  a  lover's 
anxiety  her  every  look  and  even  accent,  his  own  haggard 
face  would  startle  him. 

Then  again  her  influence  was  not  morally  good,  and  his  inter- 
est declined  in  everything  save  what  was  connected  with  her. 


264  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

Conscience  at  times  told  him  that  he  was  more  bent  on 
gaining  her  love  for  himself  than  in  winning  it  for  God. 
He  satisfied  himself  by  trying  to  reason  that  when  he  had 
won  her  affection  his  power  for  good  would  be  greater,  and 
thus,  while  he  ever  sought  to  look  and  suggest  his  own  love 
in  nameless  little  ways,  he  made  less  and  less  effort  to  remind 
her  of  a  better  love  than  even  his.  Moreover,  she  never  en- 
couraged any  approach  to  sacred  themes,  sometimes  repel- 
ling it  decidedly,  and  so,  though  he  would  scarcely  acknowl- 
edge it,  the  traitorous  fear  sprung  up,  that  in  speaking  of 
God's  love  he  might  mar  his  chances  of  speaking  of  his 
own. 

In  the  retirement  of  his  own  room,  his  reveries  grew 
longer,  and  his  prayers  shorter  and  less  inspired  by  faith 
and  earnestness.  At  the  mission  school,  Susie  Winthrop 
noticed  with  regret  that  the  lesson  was  often  given  in  a 
listless,  preoccupied  manner;  and  even  the  little  boys  them- 
selves missed  something  in  the  teacher  once  so  interesting 
and  animated.  From  witnessing  his  manner  when  with 
Christine,  Miss  Winthrop  had  more  than  suspected  his  se- 
cret for  some  time,  and  she  felt  at  first  a  genuine  sympathy 
for  him,  believing  his  love  to  be  hopeless.  From  the  first 
she  had  found  Dennis  very  fascinating,  but  when  she  read 
his  secret  in  his  ardent  glances  toward  Christine,  she  became 
conscious  that  her  interest  was  rather  greater  than  passing 
acquaintance  warranted,  and,  like  the  good,  sensible  girl 
that  she  was,  fought  to  the  death  the  incipient  fancy.  At 
first  she  felt  that  he  ought  to  know  that  Christine  was 
pledged  to  a  future  that  would  render  his  love  vain.  But 
her  own  feelings  made  her  so  exceedingly  sensitive  that  it 
was  impossible  to  attempt  so  difficult  and  delicate  a  task. 
Then,  as  Christine  seemed  to  smile  upon  him,  she  said  to 
herself:  "After  all,  what  is  their  plan,  but  a  plan,  and 
to  me  a  very  chimerical  one?  Perhaps  Mr.  Fleet  can 
give  Christine  a  far  better  chance  of  happiness  than  her 
father's  ambition.  And,  after  all,  these  are  matters  in 
which  no  third  person  can  interfere."  So,  while  remain- 


BEGUILED  265 

ing  as  cordial  as  ever,  she  prudently  managed  to  see  very 
little  of  Dennis. 

As  we  have  seen,  under  Christine's  merry  and  half- 
bantering  words  (a  style  of  conversation  often  assumed 
with  him),  even  the  thought  of  caution  vanished.  She 
led  him  over  the  moderately  large  and  partially  furnished 
house.  There  were  women  cleaning,  and  mechanics  at 
work  on  some  of  the  rooms.  As  they  passed  along  she 
explained  the  nature  of  the  decorations  she  wished.  They 
consisted  largely  of  rich  carvings  in  wood,  and  unique 
frames. 

"I  wish  you  to  help  me  design  these,  and  see  that  they 
are  properly  put  up,  and  to  superintend  the  fresco-painters 
and  mechanics  in  general.  Indeed,  I  think  you  are  more 
truly  my  prime- minister  than  my  captive." 

"Not  less  your  captive,"  said  Dennis,  with  a  flush. 

She  gave  him  a  bewildering  smile,  and  then  studied  its 
effect  upon  him.  He  was  in  Elysium,  and  his  eyes  glowed 
with  delight  at  her  presence  and  the  prospect  before  him. 
At  last  she  led  him  into  two  large  apartments  on  the  second 
floor  that  opened  into  each  other,  and  said,  '*  These  are  my 
rooms;  that  yonder  is  my  studio,"  as  was  evident  from  the 
large  easel  with  canvas  prepared  upon  it. 

They  at  once  had  to  Dennis  all  the  sacredness  of  a  shrine. 

"i  intend  to  make  these  rooms  like  two  beautiful  pic- 
tures," said  Christine,  "and  here  shall  be  the  chief  display 
of  your  taste." 

Dennis  could  scarcely  believe  his  ears,  or  realize  that  the 
cold,  beautiful  girl  who  a  few  short  months  ago  did  not 
notice  him  now  voluntarily  gave  him  such  opportunities  to 
urge  his  suit.  The  success  that  a  man  most  covets  seemed 
assured,  and  his  soul  was  intoxicated  with  delight.  He 
said,  "You  intimated  that  my  tasks  might  be  menial,  but 
I  feel  as  I  imagine  a  Greek  artist  must  have  done,  when 
asked  to  decorate  the  temple  of  a  goddess. ' ' 

"I  think  I  told  you  once  before  that  your  imagination 
overshadowed  your  other  faculties. ' ' 

— 12 


266  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Her  words  recalled  the  painted  girl  whom  she  by  a 
strange  coincidence  so  strongly  resembled.  To  his  aston- 
ishment he  saw  the  same  striking  likeness  again.  Christine 
was  looking  at  him  with  the  laughing,  scornful  expression 
that  the  German  lady  bent  upon  the  awkward  lover  who 
kneeled  at  her  feet.  His  face  darkened  in  an  instant. 

4 'Have  I  offended  you?"  she  asked,  gently;  "I  remem- 
ber now  you  did  not  admire  that  picture. ' ' 

"I  liked  everything  about  it  save  the  expression  of  the 
girl's  face.  I  think  you  will  also  remember  that  I  said  that 
such  a  face  should  be  put  to  nobler  uses." 

Christine  flushed  slightly,  and  for  a  moment  was  posi- 
tively afraid  of  him.  She  saw  that  she  must  be  more  care- 
ful, for  she  was  dealing  with  one  of  quick  eye  and  mind. 
At  the  same  time  her  conscience  reproached  her  again. 
The  more  she  saw  of  him  the  more  she  realized  how  sincere 
and  earnest  he  was;  how  different  from  ordinary  society- 
men,  to  whom  an  unsuccessful  suit  to  a  fair  lady  is  a  mere 
annoyance.  But  she  was  not  one  to  give  up  a  purpose 
readily  for  the  sake  of  conscience  or  anything  else,  and 
certainly  not  now,  when  seemingly  on  the  point  of  success. 
So  she  said,  with  a  slight  laugh,  "Do  not  compare  me  to 
any  of  those  old  pagan  myths  again ;"  and  having  thus 
given  a  slight  reason,  or  excuse,  for  her  unfortunate  ex- 
pression, she  proceeded  to  beguile  him  more  thoroughly 
than  ever  by  the  subtile  witchery  of  smiles,  glances,  and 
words,  that  might  mean  everything  or  nothing. 

"You  seem  to  have  a  study  on  your  easel  there,"  said 
Dennis,  as  they  stood  together  in  the  studio.  "May  I 
see  it?" 

"No,"  said  she;  "you  are  to  see  nothing  till  you  see  a 
triumph  in  the  portrayal  of  feeling  and  lifelike  earnestness 
that  even  your  critical  eye  cannot  condemn." 

She  justly  feared  that,  should  he  see  her  work,  he  might 
discover  her  plan ;  for,  however  she  might  disguise  it,  some- 
thing suggesting  himself  entered  into  all  her  studies. 

"I  hope  you  will  succeed,  but  doubt  it." 


BEGUILED  267 

"Why?"  she  asked,  quickly. 

"Because  we  cannot  portray  what  we  cannot  feel.  The 
stream  cannot  rise  higher  than  its  fountain."  Then  he 
added,  with  heightened  color  and  some  hesitation,  "I  fear 
— your  heart  is  still  sleeping' ' ;  and  he  watched  with  deep 
anxiety  how  she  would  take  the  questioning  remark. 

At  first  she  flushed  almost  angrily;  but,  recovering  self- 
possession  in  a  moment,  she  threw  upon  him  an  arch  smile, 
suggesting  all  that  a  lover  could  wish,  and  said:  "Be  care- 
ful, Mr.  Fleet;  you  are  seeking  to  penetrate  mysteries  that 
we  most  jealously  guard.  You  know  that  in  the  ancient 
temple  there  was  an  inner  sanctuary  which  none  might 
enter." 

"Yes,  one  might,"  said  Dennis,  significantly. 

With  her  long  lashes  she  veiled  the  dark  blue  eyes  that 
expressed  anything  but  tender  feeling,  and  yet,  so  shaded, 
they  appeared  as  a  lover  would  wish,  and  in  a  low  tone  she 
answered,  "Well,  he  could  not  enter  when  he  would,  only 
when  permitted." 

She  raised  her  eyes  quickly  to  see  the  effect;  and  she  did 
see  an  effect  that  she  would  have  given  thousands  to  be  able 
to  transfer  to  canvas. 

His  face,  above  all  she  had  ever  seen,  seemed  designed 
to  express  feeling,  passion;  and  his  wearing  life  had  made 
it  so  thin,  and  his  eyes  were  so  large  and  lustrous,  that  the 
spiritual  greatly  predominated,  and  she  felt  as  if  she  could 
almost  see  the  throbs  of  the  strong,  passionate  heart. 

Apart  from  her  artistic  purposes,  contact  with  such 
warm,  intense  life  had  for  Christine  a  growing  fascination. 
She  had  not  realized  that  in  kindling  and  fanning  this  flame 
of  honest  love  to  sevenfold  power  and  heat,  she  might  be 
kindled  herself.  When,  therefore,  she  saw  the  face  of  Den- 
nis Fleet  eloquent  with  the  deepest,  strongest  feeling  that 
human  features  can  portray,  another  chord  than  the 
artistic  one  was  touched,  and  there  was  a  low,  faint  thrill 
of  that  music  which  often  becomes  the  sweetest  harmony 
of  life. 


268  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

"And  at  some  time  in  the  future  may  I  hope  to  enter  ?" 
he  asked,  tremulously. 

She  threw  him  another  smile  over  her  shoulder  as  she 
turned  to  her  easel — a  smile  that  from  a  true  woman  would 
mean,  You  may,  but  which  from  many  would  mean  noth- 
ing, and  said,  vaguely,  "What  is  life  without  hope?"  and 
then,  as  matters  were  going  too  fast  and  far,  decisively 
changed  the  subject. 

Seated  at  her  easel  she  painted  eagerly  and  rapidly,  while 
he  measured  the  space  over  and  around  the  fireplace  with 
a  view  to  its  ornamentation.  She  kept  the  conversation  on 
the  general  subject  of  art,  and,  though  Dennis  knew  it  not, 
every  glance  at  his  face  was  that  of  a  portrait-painter. 


BITTER    DISAPPOINTMENT  269 


CHAPTEK  XXXII 

BITTER     DISAPPOINTMENT 

DENNIS  went  back  to  the  store  in  a  maze  of  hopes 
and  fears,  but  hope  predominated.  Christine  could 
not  be  indifferent  and  treat  him  as  she  did,  if  she 
had  a  particle  of  sincerity,  and  with  a  lover's  faith  he  would 
not  believe  her  false,  though  he  knew  her  to  be  so  faulty. 
44  At  any  rate,"  he  said  to  himself,  4tin  this  new  arrange- 
ment I  have  all  the  opportunity  a  man  could  ask,  and  if  I 
cannot  develop  her  plainly  manifested  interest  into  some- 
thing more  decisive  by  such  companionship,  I  may  as  well 
despair;"  and  he  determined  to  avail  himself  of  every 
advantage  within  his  reach  in  making  the  most  of  what 
he  deemed  a  rare  stroke  of  fortune.  His  greatly  increased 
salary  enabled  him  to  dress  with  that  taste  and  even  ele- 
gance so  pleasing  to  a  lady's  eye,  and  he  had  withal 
acquired  that  ease  and  grace  of  manner  which  familiarity 
with  the  best  society  bestows. 

It  is  also  well  to  tell  the  reader  that  after  some  hesitation 
Dennis  had  confided  his  feelings  to  his  mother,  and  received 
from  her  the  warmest  sympathy.  To  Ethel  Fleet's  un- 
worldly nature,  that  he  should  fall  in  love  with  and  marry 
his  employer's  daughter  seemed  eminently  fitting,  with  just 
a  spice  of  beautiful  romance.  And  it  was  her  son's  happi- 
ness and  Christine's  beauty  that  she  thought  of,  not  Mr. 
Ludolph'a  money.  In  truth,  such  was  her  admiration  for 
her  son,  she  felt  that  with  all  her  wealth  the  young  lady 
would  receive  a  greater  honor  than  she  conferred.  Though 
Dennis  wrote  with  the  partiality  of  a  lover,  he  could  not  so 


270  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

portray  Christine's  character  but  that  his  mother  felt  the 
deepest  anxiety,  and  often  sighed  in  sad  foreboding  of  serious 
trouble  in  the  future. 

From  Mrs.  Fleet's  knowledge  of  her  son's  passion,  Chris- 
tine, though  she  knew  it  not,  received  another  advantage  of 
incalculable  value.  Dennis  had  painted  an  excellent  little 
cabinet  likeness  of  her,  and  sent  it  to  his  mother.  In  the 
quiet  of  the  night  she  would  sit  down  before  that  picture, 
and  by  her  strong  imagination  summon  her  ideal  of  Chris- 
tine, and  then  lead  her  directly  to  Christ,  as  parents  brought 
their  children  of  old.  Could  such  prayers  and  faith  be  in 
vain  ?  Faith  is  often  sorely  tried  in  this  world,  but  never 
tried  in  vain. 

Day  after  day  Dennis  went  to  Mr.  Ludolph's  new  home 
during  the  morning  hours,  and  Christine's  spell  worked  with 
bewildering  and  increasing  power.  While  she  tortured  him 
with  many  doubts  and  fears,  his  hope  grew  to  be  almost  a 
certainty  that  he  had  at  last  made  a  place  for  himself  in  her 
heart.  Sometimes  the  whole  story  of  his  love  trembled  on 
his  lips,  but  she  never  permitted  its  utterance.  That  she 
determined  should  be  reserved  for  the  climax.  He  usually 
met  her  alone,  but  noticed  that  in  the  presence  of  others  she 
was  cool  and  undemonstrative.  Mr.  Ludolph  rarely  saw 
them  together,  and,  when  he  did,  there  was  nothing  in  his 
daughter's  manner  to  awaken  suspicion.  This  perfectly 
acted  indifference  in  the  presence  of  others,  and  equally  well 
acted  regard  when  alone,  often  puzzled  Dennis  sorely.  But 
at  last  he  concluded:  "She  is  wiser  than  I.  She  knows  that 
I  am  in  no  condition  now  to  make  proposals  for  her  hand; 
therefore  it  is  better  that  there  should  be  no  recognized  un- 
derstanding between  us;"  and  he  resolved  to  be  as  prudent 
as  she.  Then  again  she  would  so  awaken  his  jealousy  and 
fears  that  he  would  feel  that  he  must  know  his  fate — that 
anything  was  better  than  such  torturing  uncertainty. 

As  for  Christine,  two  processes  were  going  on  in  her 
mind — one  that  she  recognized,  and  one  that  she  did  not. 

Her  artistic  aims  were  clear  and  definite.     In  the  first 


BITTER    DISAPPOINTMENT  271 

place  she  meant  perfectly  to  master  the  human  face  as  it 
expressed  emotions,  especially  such  as  were  of  a  tender 
nature;  and  in  the  second  place  she  intended  to  paint  a 
picture  that  in  itself  would  make  her  famous.  She  chose 
a  most  difficult  and  delicate  subject — of  the  character  she 
had  ever  failed  in — a  declaration  of  love. 

When  Dennis  began  to  work  again  in  her  presence,  the 
picture  was  well  advanced. 

In  a  grand  old  hall,  whose  sides  were  decorated  with 
armor  and  weapons,  a  young  man  stood  pleading  his  ca.use 
with  a  lady  whose  hand  he  held.  The  young  girl's  face  was 
so  averted  that  only  a  beautiful  profile  was  visible,  but  her 
form  and  attitude  were  grace  itself.  The  lovers  stood  in  an 
angle  of  the  hall  near  an  open  window,  through  which  was 
seen  a  fine  landscape,  a  picture  within  a  picture.  But  Chris- 
tine meant  to  concentrate  all  her  power  and  skill  on  the 
young  knight's  face.  This  should  be  eloquent  with  all 
the  feeling  and  passion  that  the  human  face  could  express, 
and  she  would  insure  its  truthfulness  to  life  by  copying  life 
itself— the  reality.  Dennis  Fleet  was  the  human  victim  that 
she  was  offering  on  the  altar  of  her  ambition. 

Much  of  the  picture  was  merely  in  outline,  but  she  fin- 
ished the  form  and  features  of  the  suppliant  in  all  save  the 
expression,  and  this  she  meant  to  paint  from  his  face  when- 
ever she  was  in  the  right  mood  and  could  bring  matters 
to  a  crisis. 

After  he  had  been  coming  to  the  house  two  or  three 
times  a  week  for  nearly  a  month  she  felt  that  she  was 
ready  for  the  final  scene,  and  yet  she  dreaded  it,  she  had 
staked  so  much  hope  upon  it.  It  also  provoked  her  to  find 
that  she  was  really  afraid  of  him.  His  was  such  a  strong, 
sincere  nature,  that  she  felt  increasingly  the  wrong  of  tri- 
fling with  it.  In  vain  she  tried  to  quiet  herself  by  saying, 
"I  do  not  care  a  straw  for  him,  and  he  will  soon  get  over 
his  infatuation  on  discovering  the  truth." 

But  she  had  a  lesson  to  learn  as  well  as  he,  for  as  we 
have  intimated,  unrecognized  as  yet,  there  was  a  process 


272  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

going  on  in  her  mind  that  in  time  would  make  strange 
havoc  in  her  cold  philosophy.  Her  heart's  long  winter  was 
slowly  breaking  up;  her  girlish  passion,  intense  as  it  was 
foolish,  proved  that  she  had  a  heart.  Everything  had  been 
against  her.  Everything  in  her  experience  and  education, 
and  especially  in  her  father's  strong  character  and  preju- 
dices, had  combined  to  deaden  and  to  chill  her;  and  had 
these  influences  continued,  she  would  undoubtedly  have 
become  as  cold  and  hard  as  some  whom  we  find  in  ad- 
vanced life  with  natures  like  the  poles,  where  the  ice 
gathers  year  after  year,  but  never  melts. 

But  in  Dennis  Fleet  she  met  a  nature  as  positive  as  she 
was  becoming  negative.  He  was  so  warm  and  earnest  that 
when  she  commenced  to  fan  his  love  into  a  stronger  flame 
for  purely  artistic  purposes,  as  she  vowed  to  herself,  some 
sparks  of  the  sacred  fire  fell  on  the  cold  altar  of  her  own 
heart  and  slowly  began  to  kindle. 

Bat  this  awakening  would  not  now  be  that  of  a 
child,  but  of  a  woman.  Therefore,  Mr.  Ludolph,  be- 
ware! 

But  she  had  yet  much  to  learn  in  the  hard,  strange 
school  of  experience  before  she  would  truly  know  herself 
or  her  own  needs. 

Success  in  art,  however,  was  still  her  ruling  passion. 
And  though  strange  misgivings  annoyed  and  perplexed 
her,  though  her  respect  for  Dennis  daily  increased,  and  at 
times  a  sudden  pity  and  softness  made  her  little  hands 
hesitate  before  giving  an  additional  wrench  to  the  rack  of 
tincertainty  upon  which  she  kept  him ;  still,  she  would  not 
for  the  world  have  abandoned  her  purpose,  and  such  com- 
punctions were  as  yet  but  the  little  back  eddies  of  the 
strong  current. 

One  day,  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  Christine  felt 
herself  in  the  mood  to  give  the  finishing  touch  to  the  prin- 
cipal figure  in  her  picture.  The  day  was  somewhat  hazy, 
the  light  subdued  and  favorable  for  artistic  work.  Though 
she  had  prolonged  Dennis's  labors,  to  his  secret  delight  and 


BITTER    DISAPPOINTMENT  273 

great  encouragement,  she  could  not  keep  him  employed 
much  longer. 

She  sent  for  him  to  come  over  in  the  afternoon.  "Some 
brackets,  carvings,  and  pictures  had  come  for  her  studio, 
and  she  wished  him  to  put  them  up,17  she  said,  coolly,  as 
he  entered. 

He  had  come  glowing  with  hope  and  almost  assurance, 
for,  the  last  time  they  had  parted,  she  had  dismissed  him 
with  unusual  kindness.  But  here  was  one  of  those  capri- 
cious changes  again  that  he  could  not  understand. 

She  took  her  seat  at  her  easel,  saying,  with  a  nod  and  a 
smile,  "I  can  direct  you  here,  for  I  am  in  a  mood  for  work 
this  afternoon." 

He  bowed  quietly  and  went  on  with  his  task.  Her  rather 
cool  reception  oppressed  him,  and  the  tormenting  question 
presented  itself,  for  the  hundredth  time,  "Can  she  in  any 
degree  feel  as  I  do?"  He  longed  to  settle  the  matter  by 
plain,  straightforward  action. 

Her  maid  knocked  at  the  door,  saying,  "The  mail, 
mademoiselle." 

A  dainty  note  was  handed  her,  which  seemed  decidedly 
pleasing,  and  Dennis  noticed  as  she  read  it  that  she  wore 
on  her  finger  a  solitaire  diamond  that  he  had  not  seen  be- 
fore. His  latent  jealousy  was  aroused.  She  saw  that  her 
spell  was  working,  and  smiled.  Soon  she  said:  "Mr.  Fleet, 
you  seem  very  grave.  What  is  the  matter?" 

He  answered,  curtly,  "Nothing." 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  pretty,  pained  surprise.  At 
the  same  time  her  heart  smote  her.  His  face  was  so  pale 
and  thin,  and  indicated  such  real  suffering,  that  she  pitied 
him  more  than  ever.  But  she  would  have  suffered  much 
herself  for  the  sake  of  success,  and  she  was  not  one  to  hesi- 
tate long  over  the  suffering  of  another.  She  compressed 
her  lips  as  she  said,  mentally:  "Art  is  first,  and  these 
transient  feelings  are  secondary.  There  is  little  in  the 
world  but  that  has  cost  some  one  deeply."  She  did  not 
know  how  profound  a  truth  this  was. 


274  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

After  a  few  moments  Dennis  said,  in  a  tone  that  had  a 
jealous  tinge,  "Miss  Ludolph,  your  correspondent  seems  to 
interest  you  deeply." 

"And  you  also,  I  think,"  she  replied,  with  an  arch 
smile;  "and  you  will  be  interested  still  more  when  you 
have  read  this;"  and  she  offered  him  the  note. 

"I  have  no  right — do  not  think  me  prying,"  said  he, 
flushing. 

"I  give  the  right.  You  know  a  lady  can  give  many 
rights — if  she  chooses,"  she  added,  significantly. 

He  looked  at  her  eagerly. 

Her  eyes  fell  consciously,  and  her  cheeks  glowed  with 
excitement,  for  she  felt  that  the  critical  moment  had  come. 
But  instantly  her  proud,  resolute  nature  aroused  as  never 
before,  and  she  determined  to  make  the  most  of  the  occa- 
sion, let  the  consequences  be  what  they  might.  Therefore 
she  worked  eagerly  and  watched  him  closely.  Never  had 
she  been  so  conscious  of  power.  She  felt  inspired,  capable 
of  placing  on  the  canvas  anything  she  chose.  If  in  this 
mood  she  could  succeed  in  bringing  into  his  face  just  the 
expression  she  desired,  she  could  catch  it  and  fix  it  forever, 
and  with  it  make  a  laurel  (not  a  hymeneal)  wreath  for  her 
own  brow.  But  what  could  Dennis  know  of  all  this  ?  To 
him  the  glowing  cheek  and  eyes  so  lustrous  told  a  different 
tale;  and  hope — sweet,  exquisite,  almost  assured — sprang 
up  in  his  heart. 

And  he  meant  that  it  should  be  assured.  He  would 
speak  that  day  if  it  were  possible,  and  know  his  happiness, 
instead  of  fondly  believing  and  hoping  that  all  was 
sure.  Then  he  would  be  as  prudent  and  patient  as  she 
desired.  Thus  Christine  was  destined  to  have  her  wish 
fulfilled. 

She  continued:  "The  note  is  from  a  special  friend  of 
yours;  indeed  I  think  you  form  a  little  mutual- admiration 
society,  and  you  are  spoken  of,  so  I  think  you  had  better 
read  it." 

"I  shall  not  read  the  note,"  said  Dennis;  "but  you  may 


BITTER    DISAPPOINTMENT  275 

tell  me,  if  you  choose,  what  you  think  the  writer  will  have 
no  objection  to  my  knowing." 

"And  do  you  mean  to  suggest  that  you  do  not  know 
who  wrote  the  note  ?  I  can  inform  you  that  you  are  to 
be  invited  to  a  moonlight  sail  and  musicale  on  the  water. 
Is  not  that  a  chance  for  romance  ?" 

"And  will  you  go?"  asked  Dennis,  eagerly. 

"Yes,  if  you  will,"  she  said,  in  a  low  tone,  giving  him  a 
sidelong  glance. 

This  was  too  much  for  Dennis,  the  manner  more  than 
the  words,  and  taken  together  they  would  have  led  any 
earnest  man  to  committal.  He  was  about  to  speak  eagerly, 
but  she  was  not  quite  ready. 

"Moreover,"  she  continued,  quickly,  while  Dennis  stood 
before  her  with  cheeks  alternately  hot  and  pale,  "this  special 
friend  who  invites  you  will  be  there.  Now  don't  pretend 
ignorance  of  her  name." 

"I  suppose  you  mean  Miss  Winthrop,"  said  Dennis, 
flushing. 

"Ah,  you  blush,  do  you?  Well,  it  is  my  turn  to  ask 
pardon  for  seeming  curiosity." 

He  drew  a  few  steps  nearer  to  her,  and  the  expression 
she  had  so  longed  to  see  came  into  his  face.  She  looked  at 
him  earnestly  with  her  whole  soul  in  her  eyes.  She  would 
photograph  him  on  memory,  if  possible.  For  a  moment  or 
two  he  hesitated,  embarrassed  by  her  steady  gaze,  and 
seemingly  at  a  loss  for  words.  Then,  in  a  low,  deep  tone 
he  said,  "You,  better  than  any  one,  know  that  I  have  no 
cause  to  blush  at  the  mention  of  Miss  Winthrop's  name." 

She  did  not  answer,  but  was  painting  rapidly.  He 
thought  this  was  due  to  natural  excitement  expressing 
itself  in  nervous  action.  But  she  did  not  discourage  him, 
and  this  he  felt  was  everything.  With  his  heart  in  his  eyes 
and  tones,  he  said:  "Oh,  Christine,  what  is  the  use  of  wear- 
ing this  transparent  mask  any  longer  ?  Your  quick  woman's 
eye  has  seen  for  weeks  the  devoted  love  1  cherish  for  you. 
I  have  heard  much  of  woman's  intuitions.  Perhaps  you 


276  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

saw  my  love  before  I  recognized  it  myself,  since  your  grace 
and  beauty  caused  it  to  grow  unconsciously  while  I  was 
your  humble  attendant.  But,  Christine,  believe  me,  if  you 
will  but  utter  in  words  what  I  fondly  believe  I  have  read 
in  your  kindly  glances  and  manner,  though  so  delicately 
veiled — if  you  will  give  me  the  strength  and  rest  which 
come  of  assured  hope — I  know  that  not  far  in  the  future 
I  shall  be  able  to  place  at  your  feet  more  than  mere  wealth. 
I,  too,  hope  to  be  an  artist,  and  you  have  been  my  chief 
inspiration.  I  could  show  you  a  picture  now  that  would 
tell  more  of  what  I  mean  than  can  my  poor  words.  There 
is  a  richer  and  happier  world  than  you  have  yet  known, 
and  oh,  how  I  have  prayed  that  I  might  lead  you  into  it!" 
and  in  words  of  burning  eloquence  he  proceeded  to  tell  the 
story  of  his  love. 

She  heard  him  as  in  a  dream.  She  understood  his  words, 
remembered  them  afterward,  but  so  intent  was  she  on  her 
darling  purpose  that  she  heeded  them  not.  His  voice 
sounded  far  away,  and  every  power  of  mind  and  body  was 
concentrated  to  transfer  his  expression  to  the  canvas  before 
her.  Even  he,  blinded  as  he  was  by  his  emotions,  occupied 
by  the  long  pent-up  torrent  of  feeling  that  he  was  pouring 
into  her  unheeding  ear,  wondered  at  her  strange,  dazzling 
beauty  and  peculiar  manner. 

After  speaking  a  moment  or  two,  the  blur  over  his  eyes 
and  the  confusion  of  his  mind  began  to  pass  away,  and  he 
was  perplexed  beyond  measure  at  the  way  she  was  receiving 
the  open  declaration  of  his  love.  She  was  painting  through 
it  all,  not  with  the  nervous,  random  stroke  of  one  who 
sought  to  hMe  excitement  and  embarrassment  in  occupa- 
tion. She  was  working  earnestly,  consciously,  with  preci- 
sion, and,  what  was  strangest  of  all,  she  seemed  so  intent 
upon  his  face  that  his  words,  which  would  have  been  such 
music  to  any  woman  that  loved,  were  apparently  unheard. 
He  stopped,  but  the  break  in  his  passionate  flow  of  language 
was  unnoted. 

"Christine,  listen  to  me!"  he  cried,  in  an  agony  of  fear 


BITTER    DISAPPOINTMENT  277 

and  perplexity.  The  tone  of  his  appeal  might  have  stirred 
a  marble  bosom  to  pity,  but  she  only  raised  her  left  hand 
deprecatingly  as  if  warding  off  an  interruption,  while  she 
worked  with  intense  eagerness  with  her  right. 

"Christine!"  a  frown  contracted  her  brow  for  a  second, 
but  she  worked  on. 

He  looked  at  her  as  if  fearing  she  had  lost  her  reason, 
but  there  was  no  madness  in  her  swift,  intelligent  strokes. 
Then  like  a  flash  the  thought  came  to  him:  "It  is  my  face, 
not  myself,  that  she  wants !  This,  then,  has  been  the  secret 
of  her  new  hope  as  an  artist.  She  would  not  feel,  as  I  told 
her  she  must,  but  she  would  call  out  and  copy  my  emotion ; 
and  this  scene,  which  means  life  or  death  to  me^  is  to  her 
but  a  lesson  in  art,  and  I  am  no  more  than  the  human  sub- 
ject under  the  surgeon's  knife.  But  surely  no  anatomist 
is  so  cruel  as  to  put  in  his  lancet  before  the  man  is  dead/' 

Every  particle  of  color  receded  from  his  face,  and  he 
watched  her  manner  for  the  confirmation  of  his  thought. 

Her  face  was  indeed  a  study.  A  beautiful  smile  parted 
her  lips,  her  eyes  glowed  with  the  exultation  of  assured  and 
almost  accomplished  success,  and  she  looked  like  an  inspired 
priestess  at  a  Greek  oracle. 

But  a  bitterness  beyond  words  was  filling  his  heart. 

A  few  more  skilful  strokes,  and  she  threw  down  her 
brush,  crying  in  ecstatic  tones,  ll Eureka!  Eureka!"  as  she 
stood  before  the  painting  in  rapt  admiration.  In  an  instant 
he  stood  by  her  side.  With  all  the  pride  of  triumph  she 
pointed  to  the  picture,  and  said:  " Criticise  that,  if  you  can! 
Deny  that  there  is  soul,  life,  feeling  there,  if  you  dare !  Is 
that  painting  but  a  'beautiful  corpse'  ?" 

Dennis  saw  a  figure  and  features  suggesting  his  own, 
pleading  with  all  the  eloquence  of  true  love  before  the 
averted  face  of  the  maiden  in  the  picture.  It  was  indeed 
a  triumph,  having  all  the  power  of  the  reality. 

He  passed  his  hand  quickly  across  his  forehead,  as  if  to 
repel  some  terrible  delusion,  while  yet  he  whispered  its  real- 
ity to  himself,  in  silent,  despairing  confession:  "Ah,  my 


278  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

God !  How  cold  she  must  be  when  she  can  see  any  one 
look  like  that,  and  yet  copy  the  expression  as  from  a 
painted  face  upon  the  wall!" 

Then,  his  own  pride  and  indignation  rising,  he  determined 
at  once  to  know  the  truth;  whether  he  held  any  place  in 
her  heart,  or  whether  the  picture  was  all,  and  he  nothing. 

Drawing  a  step  nearer,  as  if  to  examine  more  closely,  he 
seized  a  brush  of  paint  and  drew  it  over  the  face  that  had 
cost  both  him  and  Christine  so  much,  and  then  turned  and 
looked  at  her. 

For  a  moment  she  stood  paralyzed,  so  great  seemed  the 
disaster.  Then  she  turned  on  him  in  fury.  "How  dare 
you!"  she  exclaimed. 

Only  equal  anger,  and  the  consciousness  of  right,  could 
have  sustained  any  man  under  the  lightning  of  her  eyes. 

"Bather,  let  rne  ask,  how  dare  you?"  he  replied,  in  the 
deep,  concentrated  voice  of  passion;  and  lover  and  lady 
stood  before  the  ruined  picture  with  blazing  eyes.  In  the 
same  low,  stern  voice  he  continued,  "I  see  the  secret  of  your 
artistic  hope  now,  Miss  Ludolph,  but  permit  me  to  say  that 
you  have  made  your  first  and  last  success,  and  there  in  that 
black  stain,  most  appropriately  black,  is  the  result." 

She  looked  as  if  she  could  have  torn  him  to  atoms. 

"You  have  been  false,"  he  continued.  "You  have  acted 
a  lie  before  me  for  weeks.  You  have  deceived  in  that  which 
is  most  sacred,  and  with  sacrilegious  hands  have  trifled  with 
that  which  every  true  man  regards  as  holy. ' ' 

She  trembled  beneath  his  stern,  accusing  words.  Con- 
science echoed  them,  anger  and  courage  were  fast  deserting 
her  in  the  presence  of  the  aroused  and  more  powerful  spirit 
of  her  wronged  lover.  But  she  said,  petulantly,  "Nonsense! 
You  know  well  that  half  the  ladies  of  the  city  would  have 
flirted  with  you  from  mere  vanity  and  love  of  power;  my 
motive  was  infinitely  beyond  this." 

Until  now  this  had  almost  seemed  sufficient  reason  to 
excuse  her  action,  but  she  distrusted  it  even  to  loathing 
as  she  saw  the  look  of  scorn  come  out  on  his  noble  face. 


BITTER    DISAPPOINTMENT  279 

"And  is  that  your  best  plea  for  falsehood?  A  moment 
since  I  loved  you  with  a  devotion  that  you  will  never  receive 
again.  But  now  1  despise  you. " 

"Sir!"  she  cried,  her  face  scarlet  with  shame  and  anger, 
4 'leave  this  room!" 

41  Yes,  in  a  moment,  and  never  again  to  enter  it  while 
Christine  Ludolph  is  as  false  in  character  as  she  is  beautiful 
in  person.  But  before  I  go,  you,  in  your  pride  and  luxury, 
shall  hear  the  truth  for  once.  Not  only  have  you  been  false, 
but  you  have  been  what  no  true  woman  ever  can  be — cruel 
as  death.  Your  pencil  has  been  a  stiletto  with  which  you 
have  slowly  felt  for  my  heart.  You  have  dipped  your  brush 
in  human  suffering  as  if  it  were  common  paint.  Giotto 
stabbed  a  man  and  mercifully  took  him  off  by  a  few  quick 
pangs,  that  he  might  paint  his  dying  look.  You,  more 
cruel,  accomplish  your  purpose  by  slow,  remorseless  tor- 
ture. Merciful  Heaven  only  knows  what  I  have  suffered 
since  you  smiled  and  frowned  on  me  by  turns,  but  I  felt 
that  if  I  could  only  win  your  love  I  would  gladly  endure 
all.  You  falsely  made  me  believe  that  I  had  won  it,  and 
yet  all  the  while  you  were  dissecting  my  heart,  as  a  surgeon 
might  a  living  subject.  And  now  what  have  you  to  offer  to 
solace  the  bitterness  of  coming  years  ?  Do  you  not  know 
that  such  deeds  make  men  bad,  faithless,  devilish?  Never 
dream  of  success  till  you  are  changed  utterly.  Only  the 
noble  in  deed  and  in  truth  can  reach  high  and  noble  art." 

She  sat  before  the  disfigured  picture  with  her  face  bowed 
in  her  hands. 

She  thought  he  was  gone,  but  still  remained  motionless 
like  one  doomed.  A  few  moments  passed  and  she  was 
startled  by  hearing  his  voice  again.  It  was  no  longer 
harsh  and  stern,  but  sad,  grave,  and  pitiful. 

"Miss  Ludolph,  may  God  forgive  you." 

She  trembled.  Pride  and  better  feeling  were  contend- 
ing for  the  mastery.  After  a  few  moments  she  sprang  up 
and  reached  out  her  hands;  but  he  was  gone  now  in  very 
truth. 


280  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTEK  XXXIII 

THE   TWO    PICTURES 

WHEN  Christine  saw  that  Dennis  was  not  in  the 
room,  she  rushed  to  a  window  only  in  time  to 
see  his  retreating  form  passing  down  the  street. 
For  a  moment  she  felt  like  one  left  alone  to  perish  on  a 
sinking  wreck.  His  words,  so  assured  in  their  tones, 
seemed  like  those  of  a  prophet.  Conscience  echoed  them, 
and  a  chill  of  fear  came  over  her  heart.  What  if  he  were 
right?  What  if  she  had  let  the  one  golden  opportunity  of 
her  life  pass  ?  Even  though  she  had  stolen  her  inspiration 
from  him  through  guile  and  cruelty,  had  he  not  enabled  her 
to  accomplish  more  than  in  all  her  life  before  ?  To  what 
might  he  not  have  led  her,  if  she  had  put  her  hand  frankly 
and  truthfully  in  his  ?  There  are  times  when  to  those  most 
bewildered  in  mazes  of  error  light  breaks,  clear  and  unmis- 
takable, defining  right  and  wrong  with  terrible  distinctness. 
Such  an  hour  was  this  to  Christine.  The  law  of  God  writ- 
ten on  her  heart  asserted  itself,  and  she  trembled  at  the 
guilty  thing  she  saw  herself  to  be.  But  there  seemed  no 
remedy  save  in  the  one  she  had  driven  away,  never  to  re- 
turn, as  she  believed.  After  a  brief  but  painful  revery  she 
exclaimed:  "But  what  am  I  thinking  of?  What  can  he  or 
any  man  of  this  land  be  to  me  ?" 

Then  pride,  her  dominant  trait,  awoke  as  she  recalled  his 
words. 

"He  despises  me,  does  he?  I  will  teach  him  that  I  be- 
long to  a  sphere  he  cannot  touch — the  poor  infatuated  youth ! 
And  did  he  dream  that  L  Christine  Ludolph,  could  give  him 


THE    TWO    PICTURES  .  281 

my  hand  ?  He  shall  learn  some  day  that  none  in  this  land 
could  receive  that  honor,  and  none  save  the  proudest  in  my 
own  may  hope  for  it.  The  idea  of  my  giving  up  my  ancient 
and  honorable  name  for  the  sake  of  this  unknown  Yankee 
youth." 

Bold,  proud  words  that  her  heart  did  not  echo. 

But  pride  and  anger  were  now  her  controlling  impulses, 
and  with  the  strong  grasp  of  her  resolute  will  she  crushed 
back  her  gentler  and  better  feelings,  and  became  more  icy 
and  hard  than  ever. 

By  such  choice  and  action,  men  and  women  commit 
moral  suicide. 

With  a  cold,  white  face,  and  a  burnished  gleam  in  her 
eyes,  she  went  to  the  easel  and  commenced  painting  out  the 
ominous  black  stain. 

"I'll  prove  him  a  false  prophet  also.  I  will  be  an  artist 
without  passing  through  all  his  sentimental  and  superstitious 
phases  that  have  so  amused  me  during  the  past  weeks.  I 
have  seen  his  lovelorn  face  too  often  not  to  be  able  to  repro- 
duce it  and  its  various  expressions. ' ' 

Her  strokes  were  quick  and  almost  fierce. 

"Mrs.  Dennis  Fleet,  ha!  ha!  ha!"  and  her  laugh  was  as 
harsh  and  discordant  as  the  feeling  that  prompted  it. 

Again,  a  little  later:  "He  despises  me!  Well,  he  is  the 
first  man  that  ever  dared  to  say  that;"  and  her  face  was 
flushed  and  dark  with  anger. 

Dennis  at  first  walked  rapidly  from  the  scene  of  his  bit- 
ter disappointment,  but  his  steps  soon  grew  slow  and  feeble. 
The  point  of  endurance  was  passed.  Body  and  mind  acting 
and  reacting  on  each  other  had  been  taxed  beyond  their  pow- 
ers, and  both  were  giving  way.  He  felt  that  they  were,  and 
struggled  to  reach  the  store  before  the  crisis  should  come. 
Weak  and  trembling,  he  mounted  the  steps,  but  fell  fainting 
across  the  threshold.  One  of  the  clerks  saw  him  fall  and 
gave  the  alarm.  Mr.  Ludolph,  Mr.  Schwartz,  and  others 
hastened  to  the  spot.  Dennis  was  carried  to  his  room,  and 


BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

a  messenger  was  despatched  for  Dr.  Arten.  Ernst,  with 
flying  feet,  and  wild,  frightened  face,  soon  reached  his 
home  in  De  Koven  Street,  and  startled  his  father  and 
mother  with  the  tidings. 

The  child  feared  that  Dennis  was  dead,  his  face  was  so 
thin  and  white.  Leaving  the  children  in  Ernst's  care,  both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruder,  prompted  by  their  strong  gratitude  to 
Dennis,  rushed  through  the  streets  as  if  distracted.  Their 
intense  anxiety  and  warm  German  feeling  caused  them  to 
heed  no  more  the  curious  glances  cast  after  them  than  would 
a  man  swimming  for  life  note  the  ripple  he  made. 

When  Dennis  regained  consciousness,  they,  and  Mr. 
Ludolph  and  Dr.  Arten,  were  around  him.  At  first  his 
mind  was  confused,  and  he  could  not  understand  it  all. 

"Where  am  I?"  he  asked,  feebly,  "and  what  has  hap- 
pened?" 

"Do  not  be  alarmed;  you  have  only  had  a  faint  turn," 
said  the  doctor. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Fleet,  you  vork  too  hart,  you  vork  too  hart;  I 
knew  dis  vould  come,"  sobbed  Mrs.  Bruder. 

"Why,  his  duties  in  the  store  have  not  been  so  onerous 
of  late,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  in  some  surprise. 

"It  is  not  der  vork  in  der  store,  but  he  vork  nearly  all 
night  too.  Den  he  haf  had  trouble,  I  know  he  haf.  Do  he 
say  no  vort  about  him  ?" 

Dennis  gave  Mrs.  Bruder  a  sudden  warning  look,  and 
then,  through  the  strong  instinct  to  guard  his  secret,  roused 
himself. 

"Is  it  anything  serious,  doctor?"  he  asked. 

The  physician  looked  grave,  and  said,  "Your  pulse  and 
whole  appearance  indicate  great  exhaustion  and  physical 
depression,  and  I  also  fear  that  fever  may  set  in." 

"I  think  you  are  right,"  said  Dennis.  "I  feel  as  if  I 
were  going  to  be  ill.  My  mind  has  a  tendency  to  wander. 
Mr.  Ludolph,  will  you  permit  me  to  go  home?  If  I  am  to 
be  sick,  I  want  to  be  with  my  mother." 

Mr.   Ludolph   looked    inquiringly   at   the    doctor,   who 


THE    TWO    PICTURES  283 

said  significantly,  in  a  low  tone,  "I  think  it  would  be  as 
well." 

11  Certainly,  Fleet,1'  said  his  employer;  "though  I  hope 
it  is  only  a  temporary  indisposition,  and  that  you  will  be 
back  in  a  few  days.  You  must  try  and  get  a  good  night's 
rest,  and  so  be  prepared  for  the  journey  in  the  morning." 

"  With  your  permission  I  will  go  at  once.  A  train  leaves 
now  in  an  hour,  and  by  morning  I  can  be  at  home." 

"1  scarcely  think  it  prudent,  '  began  the  doctor. 

"Oh,  certainly  not  to-night,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph,  also. 

"Pardon  me,  i  must  go  at  once,"  interrupted  Dennis, 
briefly  and  so  decidedly  that  the  gentlemen  looked  at  each 
other  and  said  no  more. 

"Mr.  B ruder, "  he  continued,  "I  must  be  indebted  to 
you  for  a  real  proof  of  your  friendship.  In  that  drawer 
you  will  find  my  money.  The  key  is  in  my  pocketbook. 
Will  you  get  a  carriage  and  take  me  to  the  depot  at  once  ? 
and  can  you  be  so  kind  as  to  go  on  home  with  me  ?  I  can- 
not trust  myself  alone.  Mrs.  Bruder,  will  you  pack  up 
what  you  think  I  need?" 

His  faithful  friends  hastened  to  do  his  bidding. 

"Mr.  Ludolph,  you  have  been  very  kind  to  me.  I  am 
sorry  this  has  occurred,  but  cannot  help  it.  I  thank  you 
gratefully,  and  will  now  trespass  on  your  valuable  time  no 
longer." 

Mr.  Ludolph,  feeling  that  he  could  be  of  no  further  use, 
said:  "You  will  be  back  in  a  week,  Fleet.  Courage. 
Good- by." 

Dennis  turned  eagerly  to  the  doctor  and  said:  "Can  you 
not  give  me  something  that  will  reduce  the  fever  and  keep 
me  sane  a  little  longer  ?  I  know  that  I  am  going  to  be 
delirious,  but  would  reach  the  refuge  of  home  first." 

A  prescription  was  given  and  immediately  procured,  and 
the  doctor  went  away  shaking  his  head. 

"This  is  the  way  people  commit  suicide.  They  know  no 
more  about,  or  pay  no  more  heed  to,  the  laws  of  health  than 
the  laws  of  China.  Here  is  the  result:  This  young  fellow 


284  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

has  worked  in  a  way  that  would  break  down  a  cast-iron 
machine,  and  now  may  never  see  Chicago  again." 

But  Dennis  might  have  worked  even  in  his  intense  way 
for  months  and  years  without  serious  harm,  had  not  a  fair 
white  hand  kept  him  on  the  rack  of  uncertainty  and  fear. 

Not  work,  but  worry,  makes  havoc  of  health. 

In  the  gray  dawn  Ethel  Fleet,  summoned  from  her  rest, 
received  her  son,  weak,  unconscious,  muttering  in  delirium, 
and  not  recognizing  even  her  familiar  face.  He  was  indeed 
a  sad,  painful  contrast  to  the  ruddy,  buoyant  youth  who 
had  left  her  a  few  short  months  before,  abounding  in  hope 
and  life.  But  she  comforted  herself  with  the  thought  that 
neither  sin  nor  shame  had  brought  him  home. 

We  need  not  dwell  on  the  weary  weeks  that  followed. 
Dennis  had  every  advantage  that  could  result  from  good 
medical  skill  and  the  most  faithful  nursing.  But  we  be- 
lieve that  his  life  lay  rather  in  his  mother's  prayers  of  faith. 
In  her  strong  realization  of  the  spiritual  world  she  would 
go  continually  into  the  very  presence  of  Jesus,  and  say, 
"Lord,  he  whom  Thou  lovest  is  sick";  or,  like  parents  of 
old,  she  would  seem  by  her  importunity  to  bring  the  Divine 
Physician  to  his  very  bedside. 

Mr.  Bruder,  too,  insisted  on  remaining,  and  watched 
with  the  unwearied  faithfulness  of  one  who  felt  that  he 
owed  to  Dennis  far  more  than  life.  It  was  indeed  touching 
to  see  this  man,  once  so  desperate  and  depraved,  now  almost 
as  patient  and  gentle  as  the  mother  herself,  sitting  by  his 
•unconscious  friend,  often  turning  his  eyes  heavenward  and 
muttering  in  deep  guttural  German  as  sincere  a  prayer  as 
ever  passed  human  lips,  that  Dennis  might  be  spared. 

The  hand  of  God  seemed  about  to  take  him  from  them, 
but  their  strong,  loving  faith  laid  hold  of  that  hand,  and 
put  upon  it  the  restraint  that  only  reverent,  believing  prayer 
can.  Dennis  lived.  After  many  days  delirium  ceased,  and 
the  confused  mind  became  clear.  But  during  his  delirium 
Ethel  and  Mr.  Bruder  learned  from  the  oft-repeated  words, 


THE    TWO    PICTURES  285 

"Cruel,  cruel  Christine!"  the  nature  of  the  wound  that  had 
nearly  destroyed  his  life. 

Mr.  Ludolph  was  late  in  reaching  his  home  on  the  even- 
ing after  Dennis  was  taken  sick.  Christine  sat  in  the  dusk 
on  the  ivy- shaded  piazza,  awaiting  him.  He  said,  abruptly, 
"What  have  you  been  doing  to  Fleet,  over  here?" 

For  a  second  her  heart  stood  still,  and  she  was  glad  the 
increasing  gloom  disguised  her  face.  By  a  great  effort  she 
replied,  in  a  cool,  matter-of-fact  tone:  "I  do  not  understand 
your  question.  Mr.  Fleet  was  here  this  afternoon,  and  gave 
some  finishing  touches  to  my  studio.  I  do  not  think  1  shall 
need  him  any  more." 

Her  quiet,  indifferent  voice  would  have  disarmed  sus- 
picion itself. 

"It  is  well  you  do  not,  for  he  seems  to  have  received 
some  'finishing  touches'  himself.  He  fell  across  the 
threshold  of  the  store  in  a  dead  faint,  and  has  gone 
home,  threatened  with  a  serious  illness." 

Even  her  resolute  will  could  not  prevent  a  sharp, 
startled  exclamation. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  said  her  father,  hastily;  "you 
are  not  going  to  faint  also,  are  you  ?" 

"No,"  said  Christine,  quietly  again;  "but  I  am  tired 
and  nervous,  and  you  told  your  news  so  abruptly!  Why, 
it  seemed  but  a  moment  ago  he  was  here  at  work,  and  now 
he  is  dangerously  ill.  What  an  uncertain  stumbling  for- 
ward in  the  dark  life  is!" 

This  was  a  style  of  moralizing  peculiarly  distasteful  to 
Mr.  Ludolph — all  the  more  repugnant  because  it  seemed 
true,  and  brought  home  in  Dennis's  experience.  Anything 
that  interfered  with  his  plans  and  interests,  even  though  it 
might  be  God's  providence,  always  angered  him.  And  now 
he  was  irritated  at  the  loss  of  one  of  his  best  clerks,  just 
as  he  was  becoming  of  great  value;  so  he  said,  sharply:  "I 
hope  you  are  not  leaning  toward  the  silly  cant  of  mysterious 
providence.  Life  is  uncertain  stumbling  only  to  fools  who 


286  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

can't  see  the  chances  that  fortune  throws  in  their  way,  or 
recognize  the  plain  laws  of  health  and  success.  This  young 
Fleet  has  been  putting  two  days'  work  in  one  for  the  past 
four  months,  and  now  perhaps  his  work  is  done  forever,  for 
the  doctor  looked  very  grave  over  him." 

Again  the  shadow  of  night  proved  most  friendly  to 
Christine.  Her  face  had  a  frightened,  guilty  look  that 
it  was  well  her  father  did  not  see,  or  he  would  have  wrung 
from  her  the  whole  story.  She  felt  the  chill  of  a  terrible 
dread  at  heart.  If  he  should  die,  her  conscience  would  give 
a  fearful  verdict  against  her.  She  stood  trembling,  feeling 
almost  powerless  to  move. 

"Come,"  said  her  father,  sharply,  "I  am  hungry  and 
tired." 

41 1  will  ring  for  lights  and  supper,"  said  Christine  hastily, 
and  then  fled  to  her  own  room. 

When  she  appeared,  her  father  was  sitting  at  the  table 
impatiently  awaiting  her.  But  her  face  was  so  white,  and 
there  was  such  an  expression  in  her  eyes,  that  he  started 
and  said,  "What  is  the  matter?" 

His  question  irritated  her,  and  she  replied  as  sharply  as 
he  had  spoken. 

"I  told  you  I  was  tired,  and  1  don't  feel  well.  I  have 
been  a  month  in  constant  effort  to  get  this  house  in  order, 
and  1  am  worn  out,  I  suppose." 

He  looked  at  her  keenly,  but  said  more  kindly,  "Here, 
my  dear,  take  this  wine";  and  he  poured  out  a  glass  of  old 
port. 

She  drank  it  eagerly,  for  she  felt  she  must  have  some- 
thing that  would  give  her  life,  warmth,  and  courage.  In 
a  way  she  could  not  understand,  her  heart  sank  within 
her. 

But  she  saw  her  father  was  watching  her,  and  knew  she 
must  act  skilfully  to  deceive  him.  Kallied  and  strength- 
ened by  the  generous  wine,  her  resolute  will  was  soon  on 
its  throne  again,  and  Mr.  Ludolph  with  all  his  keen  insight 
was  no  match  for  her.  In  a  matter-of-fact  tone  she  said: 


THE    TWO    PICTURES  287 

"I  do  not  see  how  we  have  worked  Mr.  Fleet  to  death. 
Does  he  charge  anything  of  the  kind?" 

"Oh,  no!  but  he  too  seems  possessed  with  the  idea  of 
becoming  an  artist.  That  drunken  old  Bruder,  whom  he 
appears  to  have  reformed,  was  giving  him  lessons,  and 
after  working  all  day  he  would  study  much  of  the  night 
and  paint  as  soon  as  the  light  permitted  in  the  morning. 
He  might  have  made  something  if  he  had  had  a  judicious 
friend  to  guide  him"  ("And  such  you  might  have  been," 
whispered  her  conscience),  "but  now  he  drops  away  like 
untimely  fruit." 

"It  is  a  pity,"  said  she,  coolly,  and  changed  the  subject, 
as  if  she  had  dismissed  it  from  her  mind. 

Mr.  Ludolph  believed  that  Dennis  was  no  more  to  his 
daughter  than  a  useful  clerk. 

The  next  morning  Christine  rose  pale  and  listless. 

Her  father  said,  "1  will  arrange  my  business  so  that  we 
can  go  off  on  a  trip  in  a  few  days. " 

When  left  alone  she  sat  down  at  her  easel  and  tried  to 
restore  the  expression  that  had  so  delighted  her  on  the  pre- 
ceding day.  But  she  could  not.  Indeed  she  was  greatly 
vexed  to  find  that  her  tendency  was  to  paint  his  stern  and 
scornful  look,  which  had  made  a  deeper  impression  on  her 
mind  than  any  she  had  even  seen  on  his  face,  because  so 
unexpected  and  novel.  She  became  irritated  with  herself, 
and  cried,  fiercely:  "Shame  on  your  weakness!  You  are 
unworthy  of  your  blood  and  ancestry.  I  will  reproduce 
that  face  as  it  was  before  he  so  insolently  destroyed  it;" 
and  she  bent  over  her  easel  with  an  expression  not  at  all 
in  harmony  with  her  work.  Unconsciously  she  made  a 
strange  contrast,  with  her  severe,  hard  face  and  compressed 
lips,  to  the  look  of  love  and  pleading  she  sought  to  paint. 
For  several  days  she  wrought  with  resolute  purpose,  but 
found  that  her  inspiration  was  gone. 

At  last  she  threw  down  her  brush  in  despair,  and  cried: 
"I  cannot  catch  it  again.  The  wretch  either  smiles  or 
frowns  upon  me.  I  fear  he  was  right:  I  have  made  my 


288  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

first  and  last  success;"  and  she  leaned  her  head  sullenly 
and  despairingly  on  her  hand.  Again  the  whole  scene 
passed  before  her,  and  she  dwelt  upon  every  word,  as  she 
was  beginning  often  to  do  now,  in  painful  revery.  When 
she  came  to  the  words,  "I  too  mean  to  be  an  artist.  I 
could  show  you  a  picture  that  would  tell  you  far  more 
of  what  I  mean  than  can  my  poor  words' '  she  started  up, 
and,  hastily  arraying  herself  for  the  street,  was  soon  on  her 
way  to  the  Art  Building. 

No  one  heeded  her  movements  there,  and  she  went 
directly  upstairs  to  his  room.  Though  simple  and  plain, 
it  had  unmistakably  been  the  abode  of  a  gentleman  and  a 
person  of  taste.  It  was  partially  dismantled,  and  in  dis- 
order from  his  hasty  departure,  and  she  found  nothing 
which  satisfied  her  quest  there.  She  hastened  away,  glad 
to  escape  from  a  place  where  everything  seemed  full  of 
mute  reproach,  and  next  bent  her  steps  to  the  top  floor 
of  the  building.  In  a  part  half-filled  with  antiquated  lum- 
ber, and  seldom  entered,  she  saw  near  a  window  facing 
the  east  an  easel  with  canvas  upon  it.  She  was  startled 
at  the  throbbing  of  her  heart. 

"It  is  only  climbing  these  long  stairs, "  she  said;  but  her 
words  were  belied  by  the  hesitating  manner  and  eager  face 
with  which  she  approached  and  removed  the  covering  from 
the  canvas. 

She  gazed  a  moment  and  then  put  out  her  hand  for 
something  by  which  to  steady  herself.  His  chair  was  near, 
and  she  sank  into  it,  exclaiming:  "He  has  indeed  painted 
more  than  he — more  than  any  one — could  put  into  words. 
He  has  the  genius  that  I  have  not.  All  here  is  striking 
and  original;"  and  she  sat  with  her  eyes  riveted  to  a  paint- 
ing that  had  revealed  to  her — herself. 

Here  was  the  secret  of  Dennis's  toil  and  early  work. 
Here  were  the  results  of  his  insatiable  demand  for  the  in- 
congruous elements  of  ice  and  sunlight. 

Side  by  side  were  two  emblematic  pictures.  In  the  first 
there  opened  before  Christine  a  grotto  of  ice.  The  light 


THE    TWO   PICTURES  289 

was  thin  and  cold  but  very  clear.  Stalactites  hung  glitter- 
ing from  the  vaulted  roof.  Stalagmites  in  strange  fantastic 
forms  rose  to  meet  them.  Vivid  brightness  and  beauty  were 
on  every  side,  but  of  that  kind  that  threw  a  chill  on  the 
beholder.  All  was  of  cold  blue  ice,  and  so  natural  was  it 
that  the  eye  seemed  to  penetrate  its  clear  crystal.  To  the 
right  was  an  opening  in  the  grotto,  through  which  was 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  summer  landscape,  a  vivid  contrast 
to  the  icy  cave. 

But  the  main  features  of  the  picture  were  two  figures. 
Sleeping  on  a  couch  of  ice  was  the  form  of  a  young  girl. 
The  flow  of  the  drapery,  the  contour  of  the  form,  was  grace 
itself,  and  yet  all  was  ice.  But  the  face  was  the  most  won- 
derful achievement.  Christine  saw  her  own  features,  as 
beautiful  as  in  her  vainest  moments  she  had  ever  dared 
to  hope.  So  perfect  was  the  portrait  that  the  delicate  blue 
veins  branched  across  the  temple  in  veiled  distinctness. 
It  was  a  face  that  lacked  but  two  things,  life  and  love;  and 
yet  in  spite  of  all  its  beauty  the  want  of  these  was  painfully 
felt — all  the  more  painfully,  even  as  a  lovely  face  in  death 
awakens  a  deeper  sadness  and  regret. 

One  little  icy  hand  grasped  a  laurel  wreath,  also  of  ice. 
The  other  hand  hung  listless,  half  open,  and  from  it  had 
dropped  a  brush  that  formed  a  small  stalagmite  at  her  side. 

Bending  over  her  in  most  striking  contrast  was  the  figure 
of  a  young  man,  all  instinct  with  life,  power,  and  feeling. 
Though  the  face  was  turned  away,  Dennis  had  suggested 
his  own  form  and  manner.  His  left  hand  was  extended 
toward  the  sleeping  maiden,  as  if  to  awaken  her,  while  with 
the  right  he  pointed  toward  the  opening  through  which  was 
seen  the  summr  landscape,  and  his  whole  attitude  indicated 
an  eager  wish  to  rescue  her.  This  was  the  first  picture. 

The  second  one  was  still  more  suggestive.  At  the  en- 
trance of  the  grotto,  which  looked  more  cold  than  ever, 
in  its  partial  shadow,  Christine  saw  herself  again,  but  how 
changed!  She  now  had  a  beauty  which  she  could  not 
believe  in — could  not  understand. 

KOE— V— 13 


290  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

The  icy  hue  and  rigidity  were  all  gone.  She  stood  in 
the  warm  sunlight,  and  seemed  all  warmth  and  life.  Her 
face  glowed  with  feeling,  yet  was  full  of  peace. 

Instead  of  the  barren  ice,  flowers  were  at  her  feet,  and 
fruitful  trees  bent  over  her.  Birds  were  seen  flitting  through 
their  branches.  The  bended  boughs,  her  flowing  costume, 
and  the  tress  of  golden  hair  lifted  from  her  temple,  all 
showed  that  the  summer  wind  was  blowing. 

Everything,  in  contrast  with  the  frozen,  death-like  cave, 
indicated  life,  activity.  Near  her,  a  plane-tree,  which  in 
nature's  language  is  the  emblem  of  genius,  towered  into  the 
sky;  around  its  trunk  twined  the  passion-flower,  meaning, 
in  Flora's  tongue,  "Holy  love";  while  just  above  her  head, 
sipping  the  nectar  from  an  open  blossom,  was  a  bright-hued 
butterfly,  the  symbol  of  immortality.  By  her  side  stood  the 
same  tall,  manly  form,  with  face  still  averted.  He  was 
pointing,  and  her  eyes,  softened,  and  yet  lustrous  and 
happy,  were  following  where  a  path  wound  through  a  long 
vista,  in  alternate  light  and  shadow,  to  a  gate,  that  in  the 
distance  looked  like  a  pearl.  Above  and  beyond  it,  in  airy 
outline,  rose  the  walls  and  towers  of  the  Holy  City,  the 
New  Jerusalem. 

For  a  long  time  she  sat  in  rapt  attention.  Moment  by 
moment  the  paintings  in  their  meaning  grew  upon  her- 
At  last  her  eyes  filled  with  tears,  her  bosom  rose  and  fell 
with  an  emotion  most  unwonted,  and  in  low  tones  she  mur- 
mured: "Heavenly  delusion!  and  taught  with  the  logic  I 
most  dearly  love.  Oh,  that  I  could  believe  it!  I  would 
give  ten  thousand  years  of  the  life  I  am  leading  to  know 
that  it  is  true.  Is  there,  can  there  be  a  path  that  leads 
through  light  or  shade  to  a  final  and  heavenly  home?  If 
this  is  true,  in  spite  of  all  my  father's  keen  and  seemingly 
convincing  arguments,  what  a  terrible  mistake  our  life  is!" 

Then  her  thoughts  reverted  to  the  artist. 

"What  have  I  done  in  driving  him  away  with  contempt 
in  his  heart  for  me  ?  I  can  no  more  affect  haughty  superi- 
ority to  the  man  who  painted  those  pictures.  Though  he 


THE    TWO    PICTURES  291 

could  not  be  my  lover,  what  a  friend  he  might  have  been! 
I  fear  I  shall  never  find  his  equal.  Oh,  this  world  of  chaos 
and  confusion!  What  is  right?  What  is  best?  What  is 
truth?  He  might  have  taught  me.  But  the  skilful  hand 
that  portrayed  those  wonderful  scenes  may  soon  turn  to 
dust,  and  I  shall  go  to  my  grave  burdened  with  the  thought 
that  I  have  quenched  the  brightest  genius  that  will  ever 
shine  upon  me;"  and  she  clasped  her  hands  in  an  agony 
of  regret. 

Then  came  the  thought  of  securing  the  pictures.  Drop- 
ping a  veil  over  her  red  eyes,  she  went  down  and  got  some 
large  sheets  of  paper,  and  by  fastening  them  together  made 
a  secure  covering.  Then  she  carried  the  light  frame  with 
the  canvas  to  the  second  floor,  and,  summoning  Ernst, 
started  homeward  with  her  treasure.  The  boy  obeyed 
with  reluctance.  Since  the  time  she  had  surprised  him 
out  of  his  secret  in  regard  to  the  strawberries,  he  had  never 
liked  her,  and  now  he  felt  that  in  some  way  she  was  the 
cause  of  the  sickness  of  his  dearest  friend.  Christine  could 
not  bear  the  reproach  of  his  large,  truthful  eyes,  and  their 
walk  was  a  silent  one.  At  parting  she  handed  him  a  bank- 
note, but  he  shook  his  head. 

"Have  you  heard  from  Mr.  Fleet?"  she  asked,  with  a 
flush. 

The  boy's  lip  quivered  at  the  mention  of  that  name,  and 
he  answered,  hastily:  "Fader  wrote  moder  Mr.  Fleet  was  no 
better.  I  fear  he  die;"  and  in  an  agony  of  grief  he  turned 
and  ran  sobbing  away. 

From  under  her  veil  Christine's  tears  were  falling  fast 
also,  and  she  entered  her  elegant  home  as  if  it  had  been 
a  prison. 


292  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTEK  XXXIV 

REGRET 

THE  next  day  was  the  Sabbath,  and  a  long,  dreary  one 
it  was  to  Christine.  But  late  in  the  afternoon  Susie 
Winthrop  came  with  a  pale,  troubled  face. 

" Oh,  Christine,  have  you  heard  the  news?"  she  ex- 
claimed. 

Christine's  heart  stood  still  with  fear,  but  by  a  great 
effort  she  said,  composedly,  "What  news?" 

"Mr.  Fleet  has  gone  home  very  ill;  indeed,  he  is  not  ex- 
pected to  live." 

For  a  moment  she  did  not  answer,  and  when  she  did  it 
was  with  a  voice  unnaturally  hard  and  cold:  "Have  you 
heard  what  is  the  matter?" 

Miss  Winthrop  wondered  at  her  manner,  but  replied, 
u Brain  fever,  I  am  told." 

"Is  he  delirious?"  asked  Christine,  in  a  low  tone. 

41  Yes,  all  the  time.  Ernst,  the  little  office-boy,  told  me 
he  did  not  know  his  own  mother.  It  seems  that  the  boy's 
father  is  with  Mrs.  Fleet,  helping  take  care  of  him." 

Christine's  face  was  averted  and  so  colorless  that  it 
seemed  like  marble. 

4 'Oh,  Christine,  don't  you  care?"  said  Susie,  springing 
up  and  coming  toward  her. 

4 'Why  should  I  care?"  was  the  quick  answer. 

Susie  could  not  know  that  it  was  in  reality  but  an  in- 
coherent cry  of  pain — the  blind,  desperate  effort  of  pride 
to  shield  itself.  But  the  tone  checked  her  steps  and  filled 
her  face  with  reproach. 


REGRET  293 

"Perhaps  you  have  more  reason  to  care  than  you  choose 
to  admit,"  she  said,  pointedly. 

Christine  flushed,  but  said,  coldly:  "Of  course  I  feel  an 
interest  in  the  fate  of  Mr.  Fleet,  as  I  do  in  that  of  every 
passing  acquaintance.  I  feel  very  sorry  for  him  and  his 
friends";  but  never  was  sympathy  expressed  in  a  voice 
more  unnaturally  frigid. 

Susie  looked  at  her  keenly,  and  again  saw  the  tell-tale 
flush  rising  to  her  cheek.  She  was  puzzled,  but  saw  that 
her  friend  had  no  confidence  to  give,  and  she  said,  with  a 
voice  growing  somewhat  cold  also:  "Well,  really,  Chris- 
tine, I  thought  you  capable  of  seeing  as  much  as  the  rest 
of  us  in  such  matters,  but  I  must  be  mistaken,  if  you  only 
recognized  in  Dennis  Fleet  a  passing  acquaintance.  Well, 
if  he  dies  I  doubt  if  either  you  or  I  look  upon  his  equal 
again.  Under  right  influences  he  might  have  been  one  of 
the  first  and  most  useful  men  of  his  day.  But  they  need 
not  tell  me  it  was  overwork  that  killed  him.  I  know  it  was 
trouble  of  some  kind." 

Christine  was  very  pale,  but  said  nothing;  and  Susie, 
pained  and  mystified  that  the  confidence  of  other  days 
was  refused,  bade  her  friend  a  rather  cold  and  abrupt 
adieu. 

Left  alone,  Christine  bowed  her  white  face  in  her  hands 
and  sat  so  still  that  it  seemed  as  if  life  had  deserted  her. 
In  her  morbid  state  she  began  to  fancy  herself  the  victim  of 
some  terrible  fatality.  Her  heart  had  bounded  when  Susie 
Winthrop  was  announced,  believing  that  from  her  she  would 
gain  sympathy;  but  in  strange  perversity  she  had  hidden 
her  trouble  from  her  friend,  and  permitted  her  to  go  away 
in  coldness.  Christine  could  see  as  quickly  and  as  far  as 
any,  and  from  the  first  had  noted  that  Dennis  was  very 
interesting  to  her  friend.  Until  of  late  she  had  not  cared, 
but  now  for  some  reason  the  fact  was  not  pleasing,  and  she 
felt  a  sudden  reluctance  to  speak  to  Susie  of  him. 

Now  that  she  was  alone  a  deeper  sense  of  isolation  came 
over  her  than  she  had  ever  felt  before.  Her  one  confidential 


294  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

friend  bad  departed,  chilled  and  hurt.  She  made  friends 
but  slowly,  and,  having  once  become  estranged,  from  her 
very  nature  she  found  it  almost  impossible  to  make  the  first 
advances  toward  reconciliation. 

Soon  she  heard  her  father's  steps,  and  fled  to  her  room 
to  nerve  herself  for  the  part  she  must  act  before  him.  But 
she  was  far  from  successful;  her  pale  face  and  abstracted 
manner  awakened  his  attention  and  his  surmises  as  to  the 
cause.  Having  an  engagement  out,  he  soon  left  her  to  wel- 
come solitude;  for  when  she  was  in  trouble  he  was  no  source 
of  help  or  comfort. 

Monday  dragged  wearily  to  a  close.  She  tried  to  work, 
but  could  not.  She  took  up  the  most  exciting  book  she 
could  find,  only  to  throw  it  down  in  despair.  Forever  be- 
fore the  canvas  or  the  page  would  rise  a  pale  thin  face,  at 
times  stern  and  scornful,  again  full  of  reproach,  and  then 
of  pleading. 

Even  at  night  her  rest  was  disturbed,  and  in  dreams  she 
heard  the  mutterings  of  his  delirium,  in  which  he  contin- 
ually charged  her  with  his  death.  At  times  she  would  take 
his  picture  from  its  place  of  concealment,  and  look  at  it 
with  such  feelings  as  would  be  awakened  by  a  promise  of 
some  priceless  thing  now  beyond  reach  forever.  Then  she 
would  become  irritated  with  herself,  and  say,  angrily: 
"What  is  this  man  to  me?  Why  am  I  worrying  about 
one  who  never  could  be  much  more  to  me  living  than 
dead?  I  will  forget  the  whole  miserable  affair." 

But  she  could  not  forget.  Tuesday  morning  came,  but 
no  relief.  "Whether  he  lives  or  dies  he  will  follow  me  to 
my  grave!"  she  cried.  "From  the  time  I  first  spoke  to  him 
there  has  seemed  no  escape,  and  in  strange,  unexpected 
ways  he  constantly  crosses  my  path!" 

She  felt  that  she  must  have  some  relief  from  the  oppres- 
sion on  her  spirit.  Suddenly  she  thought  of  Ernst,  and  at 
once  went  to  the  store  and  asked  if  he  had  heard  anything 
later.  He  had  not,  but  thought  that  his  mother  would  re- 
ceive a  letter  that  day. 


REGRET  295 

"I  want  to  see  your  father's  picture,  and  will  go  home 
that  way,  if  you  will  give  me  the  number." 

The  boy  hesitated,  but  at  last  complied  with  her  wish. 

A  little  later  Christine  knocked  at  Mr.  Bruder's  door. 
There  was  no  response,  though  she  heard  a  stifled  sound 
within.  After  a  little  she  knocked  more  loudly.  Then  the 
door  slowly  opened,  and  Mrs.  Bruder  stood  before  her. 
Her  eyes  were  very  red,  and  she  held  in  her  hand  an  open 
letter.  Christine  expected  to  find  more  of  a  lady  than  was 
apparent  at  first  glance  in  the  hard-working  woman  before 
her,  so  she  said,  "My  good  woman,  will  you  tell  Mrs.  Bruder 
i  would  like  to  see  her?" 

"Dis  is  Mrs.  Bruder,"  was  the  answer. 

Then  Christine  noticed  the  letter,  and  the  half-effaced 
traces  of  emotion,  and  her  heart  misgave  her;  but  she 
nerved  herself  to  say,  "I  came  to  see  your  husband's 
picture." 

"It  is  dere, "  was  the  brief  reply. 

Christine  began  to  expatiate  on  its  beauty,  though  per- 
haps for  the  first  time  she  looked  at  a  fine  picture  without 
really  seeing  it.  She  was  at  a  loss  how  to  introduce  the 
object  of  her  visit,  but  at  last  said,  "Your  husband  is 
away  ?" 

"Yes." 

"He  is  taking  care  of  one  of  my  father's — of  Mr.  Fleet, 
I  am  told.  Have  you  heard  from  him  as  to  Mr.  Fleet's 
health?" 

"Dis  is  Miss  Ludolph  ?" 

"Yes." 

"You  can  no  read  Shermaa  ?" 

"Oh,  yes,  I  can.     German  is  my  native  tongue." 

"Strange  dot  him  should  be  so." 

"Why?" 

"Der  Shermans  haf  hearts." 

Christine  flushed  deeply,  but  Mrs.  Bruder  without  a  word 
put  her  husband's  letter  into  her  hand,  and  Christine  read 
eagerly  what,  translated,  is  as  follows: 


296  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

"MY  DEAR  WIFE — Perhaps  before  this  reaches  you  our  best  friend,  our 
human  savior,  will  be  in  heaven.  There  is  a  heaven,  I  believe  as  I  never  did 
before ;  and  when  Mrs.  Fleet  prays  the  gate  seems  to  open,  and  the  glory  to 
stream  right  down  upon  us.  But  I  fear  now  that  not  even  her  prayers  can 
keep  him.  Only  once  he  knew  her ;  then  he  smiled  and  said,  'Mother,  it  is  all 
right,'  and  dropped  asleep.  Soon  fever  came  on  again,  and  he  is  sinking  fast. 
The  doctor  shakes  his  head  and  gives  no  hope.  My  heart  is  breaking.  Mar- 
guerite, Mr.  Fleet  is  not  dying  a  natural  death ;  he  has  been  slain.  I  under- 
stand all  his  manner  now,  all  his  desperate  hard  work.  He  loved  one  above 
him  in  wealth — none  could  be  above  him  in  other  respects — and  that  one  was 
Miss  Ludolph.  I  suspected  it,  though  till  delirious,  he  scarcely  ever  mentioned 
her  name.  But  now  I  believe  she  played  with  his  heart — the  noblest  that  ever 
beat — and  then  threw  it  away,  as  if  it  were  a  toy  instead  of  the  richest  offer- 
ing ever  made  to  a  woman.  Proud  fool  that  she  was;  she  has  done  more  mis- 
chief than  a  thousand  such  frivolous  lives  as  hers  can  atone  for.  I  can  write 
no  more;  my  heart  is  breaking  with  grief  and  indignation." 

As  Christine  read  she  suffered  her  veil  to  drop  over  her 
face.  When  she  looked  up  she  saw  that  Mrs.  Bruder's 
gaze  was  fixed  upon  her  as  upon  the  murderer  of  her  best 
friend.  She  drew  her  veil  closer  about  her  face,  laid  the 
letter  down,  and  left  the  room  without  a  word.  She  felt  so 
guilty  and  miserable  on  her  way  home  that  it  would  scarcely 
have  surprised  her  had  a  policeman  arrested  her  for  the  crime 
with  which  her  own  conscience,  as  well  as  Mr.  Bruder's 
letter,  charged  her;  and  yet  her  pride  revolted  at  it  all. 

"Why  should  this  affair  take  so  miserable  a  form  with 
me?"  she  said.  "To  most  it  ends  with  a  few  sentimental 
sighs  on  one  side,  and  as  a  good  joke  on  the  other.  All 
seems  to  go  wrong  of  late,  and  I  am  destined  to  have  every- 
thing save  happiness  and  the  success  upon  which  I  set  my 
heart.  There  is  no  more  cruel  mockery  than  to  give  one 
all  save  the  very  thing  one  wants;  and,  in  seeking  to  grasp 
that,  I  have  brought  down  upon  myself  this  wretched, 
blighting  experience.  On  this  chaotic  world !  The  idea  of 
there  being  a  God!  Why,  I  could  make  a  better  world 
myself!"  and  she  reached  her  home  in  such  a  morbid,  un- 
happy state,  that  none  in  the  great  city  need  have  envied 
the  rich  and  flattered  girl  Mechanically  she  dressed  and 
came  down  to  dinner. 


REGRET  297 

During  the  afternoon  Ernst,  while  out  on  an  errand,  had 
slipped  home  and  heard  the  sad  news.  He  returned  to  Mr. 
Ludolph's  office  crying.  To  the  question,  "What  is  the 
matter?"  he  had  answered,  4'0h,  Mr.  Fleet  is  dying;  he  is 
dead  by  dis  time!" 

Mr.  Ludolph  was  sadly  shocked  and  pained,  for  as  far  as 
he  could  like  anybody  besides  himself  and  daughter,  he  had 
been  prepossessed  in  favor  of  his  useful  and  intelligent 
clerk,  and  he  was  greatly  annoyed  at  the  thought  of 
losing  him.  He  returned  full  of  the  subject,  and  the  first 
words  with  which  he  greeted  Christine  were,  "  Well, 
Fleet  will  hang  no  more  pictures  for  you,  and  sing  no 
more  songs," 

She  staggered  into  a  chair  and  sat  before  him  pale  and 
panting,  for  she  thought  he  meant  that  death  had  taken 
place. 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter?"  cried  he. 

She  stared  at  him  gaspingly,  but  said  nothing. 

"Here,  drink  this,"  he  said,  hastily  pouring  out  a  glass 
of  wine. 

She  took  it  eagerly.  After  a  moment  he  said:  "Chris- 
tine, I  do  not  understand  all  this.  I  was  merely  saying  that 
my  clerk,  Mr.  Fleet,  was  not  expected — " 

The  point  of  endurance  and  guarded  self-control  was 
past,  and  she  cried,  half- hysterically:  "Am  I  never  to  es- 
cape that  man  ?  Must  every  one  I  meet  speak  to  me  as  if 
1  had  murdered  him  ?' ' 

Then  she  added,  almost  fiercely:  "Living  or  dead,  never 
speak  to  me  of  him  again !  I  am  no  longer  a  child,  but  a 
woman,  and  as  such  I  insist  that  his  name  be  dropped 
between  us  forever!" 

Her  father  gave  a  low  exclamation  of  surprise,  and  said, 
"What!  was  he  one  of  the  victims?"  (this  being  his  term 
for  Christine's  rejected  suitors). 

"No,"  said  she;  "I  am  the  victim.  He  will  soon  be  at 
rest,  while  I  shall  be  tormented  to  the  grave  by—"  She 
hardly  knew  what  to  say,  so  mingled  and  chaotic  were  her 


298  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

feelings.  Her  hands  clenched,  and  with  a  stamp  of  her  foot 
she  hastily  left  the  room. 

Mr.  Ludolph  could  hardly  believe  his  eyes.  Could  this 
passionate,  thoroughly  aroused  woman  be  his  cold,  self-con- 
tained daughter?  He  could  not  understand,  as  so  many 
cannot,  that  such  natures  when  aroused  are  tenfold  more 
intense  than  those  whom  little  things  excite.  A  long  and 
peculiar  train  of  circumstances,  a  morbid  and  overwrought 
physical  condition,  led  to  this  outburst  from  Christine,  which 
was  as  much  a  cause  of  surprise  to  herself  afterward  as  to 
her  father.  He  judged  correctly  that  a  great  deal  had  oc- 
curred between  Dennis  and  herself  of  which  he  had  no 
knowledge,  and  again  his  confidence  in  her  was  thoroughly 
shaken. 

At  first  he  determined  to  question  her  and  extort  the 
truth.  But  when,  an  hour  later,  she  quietly  entered  the 
parlor,  he  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  cold,  proud,  self-pos- 
sessed woman  before  him  would  not  submit  to  the  treatment 
accepted  by  the  little  Christine  of  former  days.  The  wily 
man  read  from  her  manner  and  the  expression  of  her  eye 
that  he  might  with  her  consent  lead,  but  could  not  com- 
mand without  awakening  a  nature  as  imperious  as  his  own. 

He  was  angry,  but  he  had  time  to  think.  Prudence  had 
given  a  decided  voice  in  favor  of  caution. 

He  saw  what  she  did  not  recognize  herself,  that  her  heart 
had  been  greatly  touched,  and  in  his  secret  soul  he  was  not 
sorry  now  to  believe  that  Dennis  was  dying. 

"Father,"  said  Christine,  abruptly,  "how  soon  can  we 
start  on  our  eastern  trip?" 

"Well,  if  you  particularly  wish  it,"  he  replied,  "I  can 
leave  by  the  evening  train  to-morrow." 

"I  do  wish  it  very  much,"  said  Christine,  earnestly, 
"and  will  be  ready." 

After  an  evening  of  silence  and  constraint  they  sepa- 
rated for  the  night. 

Mr.  Ludolph  sat  for  a  long  time  sipping  his  wine  after 
she  had  gone. 


REGRET  299 

"After  all  it  will  turn  out  for  the  best,"  he  said.  "Fleet 
will  probably  die,  and  then  will  be  out  of  the  way.  Or,  if 
he  lives,  I  can  easily  guard  against  him,  and  it  will  go  no 
further.  If  she  had  been  bewitched  by  a  man  like  Mr. 
Mellen,  the  matter  would  have  been  more  difficult. 

"in  truth,"  he  continued,  after  a  little,  "now  that  her 
weak  woman's  heart  is  occupied  by  an  impossible  lover, 
there  is  no  danger  from  possible  ones;"  and  the  man  of  the 
world  went  complacently  to  his  rest,  believing  that  what  he 
regarded  as  the  game  of  life  was  entirely  in  his  own  hands. 

The  next  evening  the  night  express  bore  Christine  from 
the  scene  of  the  events  she  sought  to  escape;  but  she  was  to 
learn,  in  common  with  the  great  host  of  the  sinning  and  suf- 
fering, how  little  change  of  place  has  to  do  with  change  of 
feeling.  We  take  memory  and  character  with  us  from  land 
to  land,  from  youth  to  age,  from  this  world  to  the  other, 
from  time  through  eternity.  Sad,  then,  is  the  lot  of  those 
who  ever  carry  the  elements  of  their  own  torture  with  them. 

It  was  Christine's  purpo'se,  and  she  had  her  father's  con- 
sent, to  make  a  long  visit  in  New  York,  and,  in  the  gayety 
and  excitement  of  the  metropolis,  to  forget  her  late  wretched 
experience. 

As  it  was  still  early  in  September,  they  resolved  to  stop 
at  West  Point  and  participate  in  the  gayest  season  of  that 
fashionable  watering-place.  At  this  time  the  hotels  are 
thronged  with  summer  tourists  returning  homeward  from 
the  more  northern  resorts.  Though  the  broad  piazzas  of 
Cozzens's  great  hotel  were  crowded  by  the  elite  of  the  city, 
there  was  a  hum  of  admiration  as  Christine  first  made  her 
round  on  her  father's  arm;  and  in  the  evening,  when  the 
spacious  parlor  was  cleared  for  dancing,  officers  from  the 
post  and  civilians  alike  eagerly  sought  her  hand,  and  hun- 
dreds of  admiring  eyes  followed  as  she  swept  through  the 
mazes  of  the  dance,  the  embodiment  of  grace  and  beauty. 
She  was  very  gay,  and  her  repartee  was  often  brilliant,  but 
a  close  observer  would  have  seen  something  forced  and  un- 
natural in  all.  Such  an  observer  was  her  father.  He  saw 


300  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

that  the  sparkle  of  her  eyes  had  no  more  heart  and  happi- 
ness in  it  than  that  of  the  diamonds  on  her  bosom,  and  that 
with  the  whole  strength  of  her  resolute  nature  she  was  labor- 
ing to  repel  thought  and  memory.  But,  as  he  witnessed  the 
admiration  she  excited  on  every  side,  he  became  more  deter- 
mined than  ever  that  his  fair  daughter  should  shine  a  star  of 
the  first  magnitude  in  the  salons  of  Europe.  At  a  late  hour, 
and  wearied  past  the  power  of  thought,  she  gladly  sought 
refuge  in  the  blank  of  sleep. 

The  next  morning  they  drove  out  early,  before  the  sun 
was  high  and  warm.  It  was  a  glorious  autumn  day.  Re- 
cent rains  had  purified  the  atmosphere,  so  that  the  unri- 
valled scenery  of  the  Hudson  stood  out  in  clear  and  grand 
outline. 

As  Christine  looked  about  her  she  felt  a  thrill  of  almost 
delight — the  first  sensation  of  the  kind  since  that  moment  of 
exultation  which  Dennis  had  inspired,  but  which  he  had  also 
turned  to  the  bitterness  of  disaster  and  humiliation.  She 
was  keenly  alive  to  beauty,  and  she  saw  it  on  every  side. 

The  Ludolph  family  had  ever  lived  among  the  moun- 
tains on  the  Rhine,  and  the  heart  of  this  latest  child  of 
the  race  yearned  over  the  rugged  scenery  before  her  with 
hereditary  affection,  which  had  grown  stronger  with  each 
successive  generation. 

The  dew,  like  innumerable  pearls,  gemmed  the  grass  in 
the  park-like  lawn  of  the  hotel,  and  the  slanting  rays  of  the 
sun  flecked  the  luxuriant  foliage.  Never  before  had  this 
passion  for  the  beautiful  in  nature  been  so  gratified,  and  all 
the  artist  feeling  within  her  awoke. 

On  reaching  the  street  the  carriage  turned  southward, 
and,  after  passing  the  village  of  Highland  Falls,  entered  on 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  drives  in  America.  At  times  the 
road  led  under  overarching  forest-trees,  shaded  and  dim 
with  that  delicious  twilight  which  only  myriads  of  flutter- 
ing leaves  can  make.  Again  it  would  wind  around  some 
bold  headland,  and  the  broad  expanse  of  the  Hudson  would 
shine  out  dotted  with  white  sails.  Then  through  a  vista  its 


REGRET  301 

waters  would  sparkle,  suggesting  an  exquisite  cabinet  pic- 
ture. On  the  right  the  thickly -wooded  mountains  rose  like 
emerald  walls,  with  here  and  there  along  their  base  a  quiet 
farmhouse.  With  kindling  eye  and  glowing  cheeks  she 
drank  in  view  after  view,  and  at  last  exclaimed,  "If  there 
were  only  a  few  old  castles  scattered  among  these  High- 
lands, this  would  be  the  very  perfection  of  scenery." 

Her  father  watched  her  closely,  and  with  much  satisfac- 
tion. 

"After  all,  her  wound  is  slight,"  he  thought,  "and  new 
scenes  and  circumstances  will  soon  cause  her  to  forget." 

Furtively,  but  continually,  he  bent  his  eyes  upon  her,  as 
if  to  read  her  very  soul.  A  dreamy,  happy  expression  rested 
on  her  face,  as  if  a  scene  were  present  to  her  fancy  even  more 
to  her  taste  than  the  one  her  eyes  dwelt  upon.  In  fact  she 
was  living  over  that  evening  at  Miss  Winthrop's,  when  Den- 
nis had  told  her  that  she  could  reach  truest  and  highest  art 
— that  she  could  feel — could  copy  anything  she  saw;  and 
exhilarated  by  the  fresh  morning  air,  inspired  by  the  scen- 
ery, she  felt  for  the  moment,  as  never  before,  that  it  might 
all  be  true. 

Was  he  who  gave  those  blissful  assurances  also  exerting 
a  subtile,  unrecognized  power  over  her  ?  Certainly  within 
the  last  few  weeks  she  had  been  subject  to  strange  moods 
and  reveries.  But  the  first  dawning  of  a  woman's  love  is 
like  the  aurora,  with  its  strange,  fitful  flashes.  The  phe- 
nomena have  never  been  satisfactorily  explained. 

But,  as  Mr.  Ludolph  watched  complacently  and  admir- 
ingly, her  expression  suddenly  changed,  and  a  frightened, 
guilty  look  came  into  her  face.  The  glow  upon  her  cheeks 
gave  place  to  extreme  pallor,  and  she  glanced  nervously 
around  as  if  fearing  something,  then  caught  her  father's 
eye,  and  was  conscious  of  his  scrutiny.  She  at  once  became 
cold  and  self-possessed,  and  sat  at  his  side  pale  and  quiet  till 
the  ride  ended.  But  he  saw  from  the  troubled  gleam  of  her 
eyes  that  beneath  that  calm  exterior  were  tumult  and  suffer- 
ing. 


302  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

Few  in  this  life  are  so  guilty  and  wretched  as  not  to  have 
moments  of  forgetf ulness,  when  the  happier  past  comes  back 
and  they  are  oblivious  of  the  painful  present.  Such  a  brief 
respite  Christine  enjoyed  during  part  of  her  morning  ride. 
The  grand  and  swiftly  varying  scenery  crowded  her  mind 
with  pleasant  images,  which  had  been  followed  by  a  deli- 
cious re  very.  She  felt  herself  to  be  a  true  priestess  of 
Nature,  capable  of  understanding  and  interpreting  her 
voices  and  hidden  meanings — of  catching  her  evanescent 
beauty  and  fixing  it  on  the  glowing  canvas.  The  strong 
consciousness  of  such  power  was  indeed  sweet  and  intoxi- 
cating. Her  mind  naturally  reverted  to  him  who  had  most 
clearly  asserted  her  possession  of  it. 

"He,  too,  would  have  equal  appreciation  of  this  scen- 
ery," she  said  to  herself. 

Then  came  the  sudden  remembrance,  shrivelling  her 
pretty  dreams  as  the  lightning  scorches  and  withers. 

"He — he  is  dead! — he  must  be  by  this  time!" 

And  dread  and  guilt  and  something  else  which  she  did 
not  define,  but  which  seemed  more  like  a  sense  of  great  loss, 
lay  heavy  at  her  heart.  No  wonder  her  father  was  perplexed 
and  provoked  by  the  sad  change  in  her  face.  At  first  he 
was  inclined  to  remonstrate  and  put  spurs  to  her  pride. 
But  there  was  a  dignity  about  the  lady  at  his  side,  even 
though  she  was  his  daughter,  that  embarrassed  and  re- 
strained him.  Moreover,  though  he  understood  much  and 
suspected  far  more — more  indeed  than  the  truth — there  was 
nothing  acknowledged  or  tangible  that  he  could  lay  hold  of, 
and  she  meant  that  it  should  be  so.  For  reasons  she  did  not 
understand  she  felt  a  disinclination  to  tell  her  troubles  to 
Susie  Winthrop,  and  she  was  most  resolute  in  her  purpose 
never  to  permit  her  father  to  speak  on  the  subject. 

If  Mr.  Ludolph  had  been  as  coarse  and  ignorant  as  he 
was  hard  and  selfish,  he  would  have  gone  to  work  at  the 
case  with  sledge-hammer  dexterity,  as  many  parents  have 
done,  making  sad,  brutal  havoc  in  delicate  womanly  natures 
with  which  they  were  no  more  fit  to  deal  than  a  blacksmith 


REGRET  303 

with  hair- springs.  But  though  he  longed  to  speak,  and 
bring  his  remorseless  logic  to  bear,  Christine's  manner 
raised  a  barrier  which  a  man  of  his  fine  culture  could  not 
readily  pass. 

She  joined  her  father  at  a  late  breakfast,  smiling  and 
brilliant,  but  her  gayety  was  clearly  forced.  The  morning 
was  spent  in  sketching,  she  seeming  to  crave  constant  occu- 
pation or  excitement. 

In  the  afternoon  father  and  daughter  drove  up  the  river 
to  the  military  grounds  to  witness  a  drill.  Mr.  Ludolph  did 
his  best  to  rally  Christine,  pointing  out  everything  of  inter- 
est. First,  the  grand  old  ruin  of  Fort  Putnam  frowned  down 
upon  them.  This  had  been  the  one  feature  wanting,  and 
Christine  felt  that  she  could  ask  nothing  more.  Her  won- 
der and  admiration  grew  as  the  road  wound  along  the  im- 
mediate bluff  and  around  the  plain  by  the  river  fortifica- 
tions. But  when  she  stood  on  the  piazza  of  the  "West  Point 
Hotel,  and  looked  up  through  the  Highlands  toward  New- 
burgh,  tears  came  to  her  eyes,  and  she  trembled  with  excite- 
ment. From  her  recent  experiences  her  nerves  were  morbidly 
sensitive.  But  her  father  could  only  look  and  wonder,  she 
seemed  so  changed  to  him. 

"And  is  the  Ehine  like  this?"  she  asked. 

"Well,  the  best  I  can  say  is,  that  to  a  German  and  a 
Ludolph  it  seems  just  as  beautiful,"  he  replied. 

"Surely,"  said  she,  slowly  and  in  half-soliloquy,  "if  one 
could  live  always  amid  such  scenes  as  these,  the  Elysium  of 
the  gods  or  the  heaven  of  the  Christians  would  offer  few 
temptations." 

"And  among  just  such  scenes  you  shall  live  after  a  short 
year  passes,"  he  answered,  warmly  and  confidently.  But 
with  anger  he  missed  the  wonted  sparkle  of  her  eyes  when 
these  cherished  plans  were  broached. 

In  bitterness  Christine  said  to  herself:  "A  few  weeks 
since  this  thought  would  have  filled  me  with  delight. 
Why  does  it  not  now?" 

Silently  they  drove  to  the  parade-ground.     At  the  sally- 


304  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

port  of  the  distant  barracks  bayonets  were  gleaming.  There 
was  a  burst  of  martial  music,  then  each  class  at  the  Academy 
— four  companies — came  out  upon  the  grassy  plain  upon  the 
double-quick.  Their  motions  were  light  and  swift,  and  yet 
so  accurately  timed  that  each  company  seemed  one  perfect 
piece  of  mechanism.  A  cadet  stood  at  a  certain  point  with 
a  small  color  flying.  Abreast  of  this  their  advance  was 
checked  as  suddenly  as  if  they  had  been  turned  to  stone, 
and  the  entire  corps  was  in  line.  Then  followed  a  series  of 
skilful  manoeuvres,  in  which  Christine  was  much  interested, 
and  her  old  eager  manner  returned. 

"I  like  the  army,"  she  exclaimed;  "the  precision  and 
inflexible  routine  would  just  suit  me.  I  wish  there  was 
war,  and  I  a  man,  that  I  might  enter  into  the  glorious 
excitements. ' ' 

Luxurious  Mr.  Ludolph  had  no  tastes  in  that  direction, 
and,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  said:  "How  about  the  hard- 
ships, wounds,  and  chances  of  an  obscure  death  ?  Thes& 
are  the  rule  in  a  campaign;  the  glorious  excitements  tha 
exceptions." 

"I  did  not  think  of  those,"  she  said,  shrinking  against 
the  cushions.  "Everything  seems  to  have  so  many  misera- 
ble drawbacks!" 

The  pageantry  over,  the  driver  turned  and  drove  north- 
ward through  the  most  superb  scenery. 

"Where  are  we  going?"  asked  Christine. 

1  *  To  the  cemetery, ' '  was  the  reply. 

"No,  no!  not  there!"  she  exclaimed,  nervously. 

"Nonsense!     Why  not?"  remonstrated  her  father. 

"I  don't  wish  to  go  there!"  she  cried,  excitedly.  "Please 
turn  around." 

Her  father  reluctantly  gave  the  order,  out  added,  * '  Chris- 
tine, you  certainly  indulge  in  strange  moods  and  whims  of 
late." 

She  was  silent  a  moment,  and  then  she  began  a  running 
fire  of  questions  about  the  Academy,  that  left  no  space  for 
explanations. 


REGRET  305 

That  evening  she  danced  as  resolutely  as  ever,  and  by 
her  beauty  and  brilliant  repartee  threw  around  her  many 
bewildering  spells  that  even  the  veterans  of  the  Point  could 
scarcely  resist. 

But  when  alone  in  her  own  room  she  looked  at  her  white 
face  in  the  mirror,  and  murmured  in  tones  full  of  unuttera- 
ble dread  and  remorse,  tlHe  is  dead— he  must  be  dead  by 
this  time!" 


306  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

REMORSE 

CHRISTINE  had  a  peculiar  experience  while  at  West 
Point.  She  saw  on  every  side  what  would  have 
brought  her  the  choicest  enjoyment,  had  her  mind 
been  at  rest.  To  her  artist  nature,  and  with  her  passion  and 
power  for  sketching,  the  Highlands  on  the  Hudson  were 
paradise.  But  though  she  saw  in  profusion  what  once 
would  have  delighted  her,  and  what  she  now  felt  ought  to 
be  the  source  of  almost  unmingled  happiness,  she  was  still 
thoroughly  wretched.  It  was  the  old  fable  of  Tantalus  re- 
peating itself.  Her  sin  and  its  results  had  destroyed  her 
receptive  power.  The  world  offered  her  pleasures  on  every 
side;  she  longed  to  enjoy  them,  but  could  not,  for  her  heart 
was  preoccupied — filled  and  overflowing  with  fear,  remorse, 
and  a  sorrow  she  could  not  define. 

A  vain,  shallow  girl  might  soon  have  forgotten  such  an 
experience  as  Christine  had  passed  through.  Such  a  creature 
would  have  been  sentimental  or  hysterical  for  a  little  time, 
according  to  temperament,  and  then  with  the  old  zest  have 
gone  to  flirting  with  some  new  victim.  There  are  belles  so 
weak  and  wicked  that  they  would  rather  plume  themselves 
on  the  fact  that  one  had  died  from  love  of  them.  But  in 
justice  to  all  such  it  should  be  said  that  they  rarely  have 
mind  enough  to  realize  the  evil  they  do.  Their  vanity 
overshadows  every  other  faculty,  and  almost  destroys  those 
sweet,  pitiful,  unselfish  qualities  which  make  a  true  woman 
what  a  true  man  most  reverences  next  to  God. 

Christine  was  proud  and  ambitious  to  the  last  degree, 
but  she  had  not  this  small  vanity.  She  did  not  appreci- 


REMORSE  307 

ate  the  situation  fulJy,  but  she  was  unsparing  in  her  self- 
condemnation. 

If  Dennis  had  been  an  ordinary  man,  and  interested  her 
no  more  than  had  other  admirers,  and  had  she  given  him 
no  more  encouragement,  she  would  have  shrugged  her 
shoulders  over  the  result  and  said  she  was  very  sorry  he 
had  made  such  a  fool  of  himself. 

But  as  she  went  over  the  past  (and  this  now  she  often 
did),  she  saw  that  he  was  unusually  gifted;  nay,  more,  the 
picture  she  discovered  in  the  loft  of  the  store  proved  him 
possessed  of  genius  of  a  high  order.  And  such  a  man  she 
had  deceived,  tortured,  and  even  killed!  This  was  the  ver- 
dict of  her  own  conscience,  the  assertion  of  his  own  lips. 
She  remembered  the  wearing  life  of  alternate  hope  and  fear 
she  had  caused  him.  She  remembered  how  eagerly  he  hung 
on  her  smiles  and  sugared  nothings,  and  how  her  equally 
causeless  frowns  would  darken  all  the  world  to  him.  She 
saw  day  after  day  how  she  had  developed  in  a  strong,  true 
heart,  with  its  native  power  to  love  unimpaired,  the  most 
intense  passion,  and  all  that  her  own  lesser  light  might  burn 
a  little  more  brightly.  Then,  with  her  burning  face  buried 
in  her  hands,  she  would  recall  the  bitter,  shameful  consum- 
mation. Worse  than  all,  waking  or  sleeping,  she  contin- 
ually saw  a  pale,  thin  face,  that  even  in  death  looked  upon 
her  with  unutterable  reproach.  In  addition  to  the  misery 
caused  by  her  remorse,  there  was  a  deeper  bitterness  still. 
Within  the  depths  of  her  soul  a  voice  told  her  that  the 
picture  was  true;  that  he  might  have  awakened  her,  and 
led  her  out  into  the  warmth  and  light  of  a  happy  life — a 
life  which  she  felt  ought  to  be  possible,  but  which  as  yet 
had  been  but  a  vague  and  tantalizing  dream.  Now  the 
world  seemed  to  her  utter  chaos — a  place  of  innumerable 
paths  leading  nowhere ;  and  her  own  hands  had  broken  the 
clew  that  might  have  brought  her  to  something  assured  and 
satisfactory.  She  was  very  wretched,  for  her  life  seemed 
but  a  little  point  between  disappointment  on  one  side  and 
the  blackness  of  death  and  nothingness  on  the  other. 


308  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

The  very  beauty  of  the  landscapes  about  her  often  in- 
creased her  pain.  She  felt  that  a  few  weeks  ago  she  would 
have  enjoyed  them  keenly,  and  found  in  their  transference 
to  canvas  a  source  of  unfailing  pleasure.  With  a  conscious 
blush  she  thought  that  if  he  were  present  to  encourage,  to 
stimulate  her,  by  the  very  vitality  of  his  earnest,  loving 
nature,  she  would  be  in  the  enjoyment  of  paradise  itself. 
In  a  word,  she  saw  the  heaven  she  could  not  enter. 

To  the  degree  that  she  had  mind,  heart,  conscience,  and 
an  intense  desire  for  true  happiness,  she  was  unhappy. 
Dress,  dancing,  the  passing  admiration  of  society,  the  pleas- 
ures of  a  merely  fashionable  life,  seemed  less  and  less  satis- 
factory. She  was  beyond  them,  as  children  outgrow  their 
toys,  because  she  had  a  native  superiority  to  them,  and  yet 
they  seemed  her  best  resource  She  had  all  her  old  longing 
to  pursue  her  art  studies,  and  everything  about  her  stimu- 
lated her  to  this,  but  her  heart  and  hand  appeared  paralyzed. 
She  was  in  just  that  condition,  mental  and  moral,  in  which 
she  could  do  nothing  well. 

And  so  the  days  passed  in  futile  efforts  to  forget — to 
drown  in  almost  reckless  gayety — the  voices  of  conscience 
and  memory.  But  she  only  remembered  all  the  more 
vividly;  she  only  saw  the  miserable  truth  all  the  more 
clearly.  She  suffered  more  in  her  torturing  consciousness 
than  Dennis  in  his  wild  delirium. 

After  they  had  been  at  the  hotel  about  a  week,  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph  received  letters  that  made  his  spreedy  return  neces- 
sary. On  the  same  day  the  family  of  his  old  New  York 
partner  arrived  at  the  house  on  their  return  from  the  Cats- 
kills.  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem  gladly  received  Christine  under 
her  care,  feeling  that  the  addition  of  such  a  bright  star 
would  make  her  little  constellation  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
in  the  fashionable  world. 

The  ladies  of  the  house  were  now  immersed  in  the  ex- 
citement of  an  amateur  concert.  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem,  bent 
upon  shining  among  the  foremost,  though  with  a  borrowed 
lustre,  assigned  Christine  a  most  prominent  part.  She  half 


REMORSE  309 

shrank  from  it,  for  it  recalled  unpleasant  memories;  but 
she  could  not  decline  without  explanations,  and  so  entered 
into  the  affair  with  a  sort  of  recklessness. 

The  large  parlors  Were  filled  with  chairs,  which  were 
soon  occupied,  and  it  was  evident  that  in  point  of  attraction 
elegant  toilets  would  vie  with  the  music.  Christine  came 
down  on  her  father's  arm,  dressed  like  a  princess,  and, 
though  her  diamonds  were  few,  such  were  their  size  and  bril- 
liancy that  they  seemed  on  fire.  Every  eye  followed  Mrs. 
Yon  Brakhiem's  party,  and  that  good  lady  took  half  the 
admiration  to  herself. 

A  superior  tenor,  with  an  unpronounceable  foreign 
name,  had  come  up  from  New  York  to  grace  the  occa- 
sion. But  personally  he  lacked  every  grace  himself,  his 
fine  voice  being  the  one  thing  that  redeemed  him  from 
utter  insignificance  in  mind  and  appearance.  Nevertheless 
he  was  vain  beyond  measure,  and  made  the  most  of  himself 
on  all  occasions. 

The  music  was  fine,  for  the  amateurs,  feeling  that  they 
had  a  critical  audience,  did  their  best.  Christine  chose  three 
brilliant,  difficult,  but  heartless  pieces  as  her  contribution 
to  the  entertainment  (she  would  not  trust  herself  with  any- 
thing else);  and  with  something  approaching  reckless  gayety 
she  sought  to  hide  the  bitterness  at  her  heart.  Her  splen- 
did voice  and  exquisite  touch  doubled  the  admiration  her 
beauty  and  diamonds  had  excited,  and  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem 
basked  in  still  stronger  reflected  light.  She  took  every  op- 
portunity to  make  it  known  that  she  was  Miss  Ludolph's 
chaperon. 

After  her  first  effort,  the  "distinguished"  tenor  from  New 
York  opened  his  eyes  widely  at  her;  at  her  second,  he  put 
up  his  eyeglass  in  something  like  astonishment;  and  the 
close  of  her  last  song  found  him  nervously  rummaging 
a  music  portfolio  in  the  corner. 

But  for  Christine  the  law  of  association  had  become  too 
strong,  and  the  prolonged  apolause  recalled  the  evening  at 
Miss  Brown's  when  the  same  sounds  iiad  deafened  her,  but 


310  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

when  turning  from  it  all  she  had  seen  Dennis  Fleet  standing 
in  rapt  attention,  his  lips  parted,  his  eyes  glowing  with  such 
an  honest  admiration  that  even  then  it  was  worth  more  to 
her  than  all  the  clamor.  Then,  by  the  same  law  of  associa- 
tion, she  again  saw  that  eager,  earnest  face,  changed  pale, 
dead— dead ! — and  she  the  cause.  "Regardless  of  the  compli- 
ments lavished  upon  her,  she  buried  her  face  in  her  hands 
and  trembled  from  head  to  foot. 

But  the  irrepressible  tenor  had  found  what  he  wanted, 
and  now  came  forward  asking  that  Miss  Ludolph  would 
sing  a  duet  with  him. 

She  lifted  a  wan  and  startled  face.  Must  the  torturing 
similarity  and  still  more  torturing  contrast  of  the  two  occa- 
sions be  continued  ?  But  she  saw  her  father  regarding  her 
sternly — saw  that  she  was  becoming  the  subject  of  curious 
glauces  and  whispered  surmises.  Her  pride  was  aroused  at 
once,  and,  goaded  on  by  it,  she  said,  "Oh,  certainly;  I  am 
not  feeling  well,  but  it  does  not  signify." 

41  And  den,"  put  in  the  tenor,  "dis  is  von  grand  occazeon 
to  you,  for  it  is  so  unfrequent  dat  I  find  any  von  vorthy  to 
sing  dis  style  of  music  vith  me." 

"  What  is  the  music?"  asked  Christine,  coldly. 

To  her  horror  she  found  it  the  same  selection  from  Men- 
delssohn that  she  had  sung  with  Dennis. 

"No,"  she  said,  sharply,  "I  cannot  sing  that." 

"Pardon  me,  my  daughter,  you  can  sing  it  admirably 
if  you  choose,"  interposed  her  father. 

She  turned  to  him  imploringly,  but  his  face  was  inflexi- 
ble, and  his  eyes  had  an  incensed  look.  For  a  moment  she, 
too,  was  angry.  Had  he  no  mercy  ?  She  was  about  to 
decline  coldly,  but  her  friends  were  very  urgent  and 
clamorous — "Please  do,"  "Don't  disappoint  us,"  echoing 
on  every  side.  The  tenor  was  so  surprised  and  puzzled 
at  her  insensibility  to  the  honor  he  had  conferred,  that,  to 
prevent  a  scene  she  could  not  explain,  she  went  to  the  piano 
as  if  led  to  the  stake. 

But  the  strain  was  too  great  upon  her  in  her  suffering 


REMORSE  311 

state.  The  familiar  notes  recalled  so  vividly  the  one  who 
once  before  had  sung  them  at  her  side  that  she  turned  al- 
most expecting  to  see  him — but  saw  only  the  vain  little 
animated  music-machine,  who  with  many  contortions  was 
producing  the  harmony.  "Just  this  mockery  my  life  will 
ever  be,"  she  thought;  "all  that  I  am,  the  best  I  can  do, 
will  always  be  connected  with  something  insignificant  and 
commonplace.  The  rich,  impassioned  voice  of  the  man  who 
sang  these  words,  and  who  might  have  taught  me  to  sing 
the  song  of  a  new  and  happier  life,  I  have  silenced  forever." 

The  thought  overpowered  her.  Just  then  her  part  re- 
curred, but  her  voice  died  away  in  a  miserable  quaver,  and 
again  she  buried  her  face  in  her  hands.  Suddenly  she 
sprang  from  the  piano,  darted  through  the  low-cut  open 
window  near,  and  a  moment  later  ordered  her  startled  maid 
from  the  room,  turned  the  key,  and  was  alone. 

Her  father  explained  coldly  to  the  astonished  audience 
and  the  half-paralyzed  tenor  (who  still  stood  with  his  mouth 
open)  that  his  daughter  was  not  at  all  well  that  evening, 
and  ought  not  to  have  appeared  at  all.  This  Mrs.  Yon 
Brakhiem  took  up  and  repeated  with  endless  variations. 
But  the  evidences  of  sheer  mental  distress  on  the  part  of 
Christine  had  been  too  clear,  and  countless  were  the  whis- 
pered surmises  of  the  fashionable  gossips  in  explanation. 

Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem  herself,  burning  with  curiosity,  soon 
retired,  that  she  might  receive  from  her  lovely  charge  some 
gushing  confidences,  which  she  expected,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  would  be  poured  into  what  she  chose  to  regard  as 
her  sympathizing  ear.  But  she  knocked  in  vain  at  Chris- 
tine's door. 

Later  Mr.  Ludolph  knocked.     There  was  no  answer. 

"Christine!"  he  called. 

After  some  delay  a  broken  voice  answered,  "You  cannot 
enter — I  am  not  well— I  have  retired." 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  strode  away,  and  that  night 
drank  more  brandy  and  water  than  was  good  for  him. 

As  for  Christine,  warped  and  chilled  though  her  nature 


312  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

had  been,  she  was  still  a  woman,  she  was  still  young,  and, 
though  she  knew  it  not,  she  had  heard  the  voice  which  had 
spoken  her  heart  into  life.  Through  a  chain  of  circum- 
stances for  which  she  was  partly  to  blame,  she  had  been 
made  to  suffer  as  she  had  not  believed  was  possible.  The 
terrible  words  of  Mr.  Bruder's  letter  rang  continually  in 
her  ears — "Mrs.  Fleet  is  not  dying  a  natural  death;  he  has 
been  slain." 

For  many  long,  weary  days  the  conviction  had  been 
growing  upon  her  that  she  had  indeed  slain  him  and  mor- 
tally wounded  herself.  Until  to-night  she  had  kept  herself 
outwardly  under  restraint,  but  now  the  long  pent-up  feeling 
gave  way,  and  she  sobbed  as  if  her  heart  would  break — 
sobbed  till  the  power  to  weep  was  gone.  If  now  some  kind, 
judicious  friend  had  shown  her  that  she  was  not  so  guilty 
as  she  deemed  herself;  that,  however,  frightful  the  conse- 
quences of  such  acts,  she  was  really  not  to  blame  for  what 
she  did  not  intend  and  could  not  foresee;  more  than  all,  if 
she  could  only  have  known  that  her  worst  fears  about  Den- 
nis were  not  to  be  realized,  and  that  he  was  now  recovering, 
she  might  at  once  have  entered  on  a  new  and  happier  life. 
But  there  was  no  such  friend,  no  such  knowledge,  and  her 
wounded  spirit  was  thrown  back  upon  itself. 

At  last,  robed  as  she  had  been  for  the  evening,  she  fell 
asleep  from  sheer  exhaustion  and  grief — for  grief  induces 
sleep. 

The  gems  that  shone  in  her  dishevelled  hair;  that  rose 
and  fell  as  at  long  intervals  her  bosom  heaved  with  convul- 
sive sobs,  like  the  fitful  gusts  of  a  storm  that  is  dying  away; 
the  costly  fabrics  she  wore — made  sad  mockery  in  their  con- 
trast with  the  pale,  tear-stained,  suffering  face.  The  hard- 
est heart  might  have  pitied  her — yes,  even  the  wholly  am- 
bitious heart  of  her  father,  incensed  as  he  was  that  a  plebe- 
ian stranger  of  this  land  should  have  caused  such  distress. 

When  Christine  awoke,  her  pride  awoke  also.  With  bit- 
terness of  spirit  she  recalled  the  events  of  the  past  evening. 
But  a  new  phase  of  feeling  now  began  to  manifest  itself. 


REMORSE  '6Y6 

After  her  passionate  outburst  she  was  much  calmer.  In 
this  respect  the  unimpeded  flow  of  feeling  had  done  her 
good,  and,  as  intimated,  if  kindness  and  sympathy  could  now 
have  added  their  gentle  ministrations,  she  might  have  been 
the  better  for  it  all  her  life.  But,  left  to  herself,  she  again 
yielded  to  the  sway  of  her  old  and  worst  traits.  Chief  among 
these  was  pride;  and  under  the  influence  of  this  passion  and 
the  acute  suffering  of  her  unsoothed,  unguided  spirit,  she 
began  to  rebel  in  impotent  anger.  She  grew  hard,  cynical, 
and  reckless.  Her  father's  lack  of  sympathy  and  considera- 
tion alienated  her  heart  even  from  him.  Left  literally 
alone  in  the  world,  her  naturally  reserved  nature  shut  itself 
up  more  closely  than  ever.  Even  her  only  friend,  Susie 
Winthrop,  drifted  away.  One  other,  who  might  have  been — 
But  she  could  think  of  him  only  with  a  shudder  now.  All 
the  rest  seemed  indifferent,  or  censorious,  or,  worse  still, 
to  be  using  her,  like  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem  and  even  her  own 
father,  as  a  stepping-stone  to  their  personal  ambition. 
Christine  could  not  see  that  she  was  to  blame  for  this 
isolation.  She  did  not  understand  that  cold,  selfish  natures, 
like  her  own  and  her  father's,  could  not  surround  them- 
selves with  warm,  generous  friends.  She  saw  only  the  fact. 
But  with  flashing  eyes  she  resolved  that  her  heart's  secrets 
should  not  be  pried  into  a  hair- breadth  further;  that  she 
would  be  used  only  so  far  as  she  chose.  She  would,  in 
short,  "face  out"  the  events  of  the  past  evening  simply  and 
solely  on  the  ground  that  she  had  not  been  well,  and  permit 
no  questions  to  be  asked. 

Cold  and  self-possessed,  she  came  down  to  a  late  break- 
fast. Mrs.  Yon  Brakhiem,  and  others  who  had  been  intro- 
duced, joined  her,  but  nothing  could  penetrate  through  the 
nice  polished  armor  of  her  courteous  reserve.  Her  father 
looked  at  her  keenly,  but  she  coolly  returned  his  gaze. 

When  alone  with  her  soon  afterward,  he  turned  and  said, 
sharply,  "What  does  all  this  mean?" 

She  looked  around  as  if  some  one  else  were  near. 

"Were  you  addressing  me?"  she  asked,  coldly. 
ROE— y— 14 


314  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

44 Yes,  of  course  I  am,"  said  her  father,  impatiently. 

4 'From  your  tone  and  manner,  I  supposed  you  must  be 
speaking  to  some  one  else." 

4 'Nonsense!  I  was  speaking  to  you.  What  does  all  this 
mean?" 

She  turned  on  him  an  indescribable  look,  and  after  a  mo- 
ment said  in  a  slow,  meaning  tone,  "Have  you  not  heard 
my  explanation,  sir  ?' ' 

Such  was  her  manner,  he  felt  he  could  as  easily  strike 
her  as  say  another  word. 

Muttering  an  oath,  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  left  her 
to  herself. 

The  next  morning  her  father  bade  her  '4 Good- by."  In 
parting  he  said,  meaningly,  44 Christine,  beware!" 

Again  she  turned  upon  him  that  peculiar  look,  and  re- 
plied in  a  low,  firm  tone:  44That  recommendation  applies  to 
you,  also.  Let  us  both  beware,  lest  we  repent  at  leisure. " 

The  wily  man,  skilled  in  character,  was  now  thoroughly 
convinced  that  in  his  daughter  he  was  dealing  with  a  nature 
very  different  from  his  wife's — that  he  was  now  confronted 
by  a  spirit  as  proud  and  imperious  as  his  own.  He  clearly 
saw  that  force,  threatening,  sternness  would  not  answer  in 
this  case,  and  that  if  he  carried  his  points  it  must  be  through 
skill  and  cunning.  By  some  means  he  must  ever  gain  her 
consent  and  co-operation. 

His  manner  changed.  Instinctively  she  divined  the  cause; 
and  hers  did  not.  Therefore  father  and  daughter  parted  as 
father  and  daughter  ought  never  to  part. 

After  his  departure  she  was  to  remain  at  West  Point  till 
the  season  closed,  and  then  accompany  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem 
to  New  York,  where  she  was  to  make  as  long  a  visit  as  she 
chose; — and  she  chose  to  make  a  long  one.  In  the  scenery, 
and  the  society  of  the  officers  at  West  Point,  and  the  excite- 
ments of  the  metropolis,  she  found  more  to  occupy  her 
thoughts  than  she  could  have  done  at  Chicago.  She  went 
deliberately  to  work  to  kill  time  and  snatch  from  it  such 
fleeting  pleasures  as  she  might. 


REMORSE  315 

They  stayed  in  the  country  till  the  pomp  and  glory  of 
October  began  to  illumine  the  mountains,  and  then  (to 
Christine's  regret)  went  to  the  city.  There  she  entered  into 
every  amusement  and  dissipation  that  her  tastes  permitted, 
and  found  much  pleasure  in  frequent  visits  to  the  Central 
Park,  although  it  seemed  tame  and  artificial  after  the  wild 
grandeur  of  the  mountains.  It  was  well  that  her  nature  was 
so  high-toned  that  she  found  enjoyment  in  only  what  was  re- 
fined or  intellectual.  Had  it  been  otherwise  she  might  soon 
have  taken,  in  her  morbid,  reckless  state,  a  path  to  swift 
and  remediless  ruin,  as  many  a  poor  creature  all  at  war 
with  happiness  and  truth  has  done.  And  thus  in  a  giddy 
whirl  of  excitement  (Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem's  normal  condi- 
tion) the  days  and  weeks  passed,  till  at  last,  thoroughly 
satiated  and  jaded,  she  concluded  to  return  home,  for  the 
sake  of  change  and  quiet,  if  nothing  else.  Mrs.  Von  Brak- 
hiem  parted  with  her  regretfully.  Where  would  she  find 
such  another  ally  in  her  determined  struggle  to  be  talked 
about  and  envied  a  little  more  than  some  other  pushing, 
jostling  votaries  of  fashion  ? 

In  languor  or  sleep  Christine  made  the  journey,  and  in 
the  dusk  of  a  winter's  day  her  father  drove  her  to  their 
beautiful  home,  which  from  association  was  now  almost 
hateful  to  her.  Still  she  was  too  weary  to  think  or  suffer 
much.  They  met  each  other  very  politely,  and  their  inter- 
course assumed  at  once  its  wonted  character  of  high-bred 
courtesy,  though  perhaps  it  was  a  little  more  void  of  mani- 
fested sympathy  and  affection  than  before. 

Several  days  elapsed  in  languid  apathy,  the  natural  re- 
action of  past  excitement;  then  an  event  occurred  which 
most  thoroughly  aroused  her. 


316  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


M 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

AN   APPARITION 

R.  LUDOLPH  had  hoped  to  hear  on  his  return  that 
Dennis  was  dead.  That  would  end  all  difficulties. 
Mr.  Schwartz  did  not  know ; — he  was  not  at  last  ac- 
counts. Ernst  was  summoned.  With  a  bright,  hopeful  face 
he  stated  that  his  mother  had  just  received  a  letter  saying 
Dennis  was  a  little  better.  He  was  much  surprised  at  his 
employer's  heavy  frown. 

"He  will  live,"  mused  Mr.  Ludolph;  "and  now  shall  I 
permit  him  to  return  to  my  employ,  or  discharge  him  ?' ' 

His  brow  contracted  in  lines  of  thought  that  suggested 
shrewdness,  cunning,  nothing  manly,  and  warily  he  judged. 

"If  I  do  not  take  him,  he  will  go  to  Mr.  French  with 
certainty.  He  had  better  return,  for  then  both  he  and 
Christine  will  be  more  thoroughly  under  my  surveillance. 

"Curses  on  Christine's  waywardness!  There  may  be  no 
resisting  her,  and  my  best  chance  will  be  in  managing  him. 
This  I  could  not  do  if  he  were  in  the  store  of  my  rival;" 
and  so  for  unconscious  Dennis  this  important  question 
was  decided. 

At  last,  as  we  have  said,  his  delirium  ceased,  and  the 
quiet  light  of  reason  came  into  his  eyes.  He  looked  at  his 
mother  and  smiled,  but  was  too  weak  even  to  reach  out 
his  hand. 

The  doctor,  coming  in  soon  after,  declared  danger  past, 
and  that  all  depended  now  on  good  nursing.  Little  fear  of 
his  wanting  that ! 

"Ah,  mine  Gott  be  praised!  mine  Gott  be  praised!"  ex- 
claimed Mr.  Bruder,  who  had  to  leave  the  room  to  prevent 
an  explosion  of  his  grateful,  happy  feelings  that  might  have 


AN    APPARITION  317 

proved  too  rude  a  tempest  for  Dennis  in  his  weak  state. 
He  was  next  seen  striding  across  the  fields  to  a  neighboring 
grove,  ejaculating  as  he  went.  When  he  returned  his  eyes 
shone  with  a  great  peace  and  joy,  and  he  had  evidently  been 
with  Him  who  had  cast  out  the  demon  from  his  heart. 

Day  after  day  Dennis  rallied.  Unlike  poor  Christine,  he 
had  beneath  him  the  two  strongest  levers,  love  and  prayer, 
and  steadily  they  lifted  him  up  to  health  and  strength  and 
comparative  peace.  At  last  he  was  able  to  sit  up  and  walk 
about  feebly,  and  Mr.  Bruder  returned  rejoicing  to  his  fam- 
ily. As  he  wrung  Dennis's  hand  at  parting,  he  said,  in 
rather  a  hoarse  voice:  "if  any  von  tell  me  Gott  is  not  goot 
and  heareth  not  prayer,  den  I  tell  him  he  von  grand 
heathen.  Oh!  but  ve  vill  velcome  you  soon.  Ve  vill  haf 
de  grandest  supper,  de  grandest  songs,  de  grandest — "  but 
just  here  Mr.  Bruder  thought  it  prudent  to  pull  his  big  fur 
cap  over  his  eyes,  and  make  a  rush  for  the  stage. 

As  if  by  tacit  understanding,  Christine's  name  had  not 
been  mentioned  during  Dennis's  recovery.  But  one  even- 
ing, after  the  little  girls  had  been  put  to  bed,  and  the  lamp 
shaded,  he  sat  in  the  dimly  lighted  room,  looking  fixedly 
for  a  long  time  at  the  glowing  embers.  His  mother  was 
moving  quietly  about,  putting  away  the  tea-things,  clear- 
ing up  after  the  children's  play;  but  as  she  worked  she 
furtively  watched  him.  At  last  coming  to  his  side  she 
pushed  back  the  hair  that  seemed  so  dark  in  contrast  with 
the  thin,  white  face  and  said,  gently,  "You  are  thinking  of 
Miss  Ludolph,  Dennis." 

He  had  some  blood  yet,  for  that  was  not  the  glow  of  the 
fire  that  suffused  his  cheek;  but  he  only  answered,  quietly, 
"Yes,  mother." 

Do  you  think  you  can  forget  her  ?' ' 

"I  don't  know." 

44 Prayer  is  a  mighty  thing,  my  son." 

"But  perhaps  it  is  not  God's  will  that  I  should  ever  win 
her,"  said  Dennis,  despondently. 

"Then  surely  it  is  not  yours,  my  child." 


318  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

"No,  mother,"  said  Dennis,  with  bowed  head  and  low 
tone,  "but  yet  I  am  human  and  weak." 

44  You  would  still  wish  that  it  were  His  will  ?" 

1  *  Yes ;  I  could  not  help  it. ' ' 

"But  you  would  submit?" 

"Yes,  with  His  help  I  would,"  firmly. 

"That  is  sufficient,  my  boy;  I  have  such  confidence  in 
God  that  I  know  this  matter  will  result  in  a  way  to  secure 
you  the  greatest  happiness  in  the  end. ' ' 

But  after  a  little  time  he  sighed,  wearily,  "Yet  how  hard 
it  is  to  wait  till  the  great  plan  is  worked  out!" 

Solemnly  she  quoted — "God  will  render  to  every  man 
according  to  his  deeds.  To  them  who  by  patient  contin- 
uance in  well-doing  seek  for  glory  and  honor  and  immor- 
tality, eternal  life." 

Braced  by  the  stirring  words  of  inspiration,  strengthened 
by  his  mother's  faith,  he  looked  up  after  a  moment  and  said, 
earnestly,  "At  any  rate  I  will  try  to  be  a  man  in  your  sense 
of  the  word)  and  that  is  saying  a  great  deal." 

She  beamed  at  him  through  her  spectacles  over  her  knit- 
ting-needles; and  he  thought,  as  he  gazed  fondly  at  her,  tbat 
in  spite  of  her  quaint,  old-fashioned  garb,  and  homely  occu- 
pation, she  appeared  more  truly  a  saint  than  any  painted  on 
cathedral  windows. 

He  soon  noticed  that  his  mother  had  grown  feeble,  and 
he  determined  to  take  her  with  him  on  his  return,  believing 
that,  by  his  care,  and  the  wise  use  of  tonics,  he  could  restore 
her  to  her  wonted  strength.  His  increased  salary  now  justi- 
fied the  step. 

Early  in  November  his  physician  said  he  might  return 
to  business  if  he  would  be  prudent.  He  gladly  availed  him- 
self of  the  permission,  for  he  longed  to  be  employed  again. 

The  clerks  all  welcomed  him  warmly,  for  his  good-nature 
had  disarmed  jealousy  at  his  rapid  rise.  But  in  the  greet- 
ing of  Mr.  Ludolph  he  missed  something  of  the  cordiality 
he  expected. 

''Perhaps  she  has  told  him,"  thought  he;  and  at  once 


AN    APPARITION  319 

his  own  manner  became  tinged  with  a  certain  coldness  and 
dignity.  He  determined  that  both  father  and  daughter 
should  think  of  him  only  with  respect. 

At  the  Bruders'  the  millennium  came  with  Dennis. 
Metaphorically  the  fatted  calf  was  killed;  their  plain  little 
room  was  trimmed  with  evergreens,  and  when  he  entered 
he  was  greeted  by  such  a  jubiliant,  triumphant  chorus  of 
welcomes  as  almost  took  away  his  breath.  What  little  he 
had  left  was  suddenly  squeezed  out  of  him;  for  Mrs.  Bru- 
den,  dropping  her  frying-pan  and  dish-cloth,  rushed  upon 
him,  exclaiming,  "Ah!  mine  fren!  mine  fren!  De  goot 
Gott  be  praised;"  and  she  gave  him  an  embrace  that  made 
his  bones  ache. 

Mr.  Bruder  stalked  about  the  room  repeating  with  explo- 
sive energy,  like  minute-guns,  "Praise  Gott!  Praise  Gott!" 
Ernst,  his  great  eyes  dimmed  with  happy  tears,  clung  to 
Dennis's  hand,  as  if  he  would  make  sure,  by  sense  of  touch 
as  well  as  sight,  that  he  had  regained  his  beloved  teacher. 
The  little  Bruders  were  equally  jubilant,  though  from  rather 
mixed  motives.  Dennis's  arrival  was  very  well,  but  they 
could  not  keep  their  round  eyes  long  off  the  preparations 
for  such  a  supper  as  never  before  had  blessed  their  brief 
career. 

"Truly,"  thought  Dennis,  as  he  looked  around  upon  the 
happy  family,  and  contrasted  its  appearance  with  that  which 
it  had  presented  when  he  first  saw  it,  "my  small  investment 
of  kindness  and  effort  in  this  case  has  returned  large  inter- 
est. I  think  it  pays  to  do  good." 

The  evening  was  one  of  almost  unmingled  happiness, 
even  to  his  sore,  disappointed  heart,  and  passed  into  memory 
as  among  the  sunniest  places  of  his  life. 

He  found  a  pleasant  little  cottage  over  on  the  West  side, 
part  of  which  he  rented  for  his  mother  and  sisters. 

With  Mr.  Ludolph's  permission  he  went  after  them,  and 
installed  them  in  it.  Thus  he  had  what  he  had  needed  all 
along — a  home,  a  resting-place  for  body  and  soul,  under  the 
watchful  eye  of  love. 


320  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

About  this  time  Dr.  Arten  met  him,  stared  a  moment, 
then  clapped  him  on  the  back  in  his  hearty  way,  saying, 
44 Well,  well,  young  man!  you  have  cause  to  be  thankful, 
and  not  to  the  doctors,  either. ' ' 

"I  think  1  am,"  said  Dennis,  smiling. 

Suddenly  the  doctor  looked  grave,  and  asked  in  a  stern 
voice,  "  Are  you  a  heathen,  or  a  good  Christian  ?" 

"I  hope  not  the  former,"  replied  Dennis,  a  little  startled. 

"Then  don't  go  and  commit  suicide  again.  Don't  you 
know  flesh  and  blood  can  only  stand  so  much?  When  an 
intelligent  young  fellow  like  you  goes  beyond  that,  he  is 
committing  suicide.  Bless  your  soul,  my  ambitious  friend, 
the  ten  commandments  ain't  all  the  law  of  God.  His  laws 
are  also  written  all  over  this  long  body  of  yours,  and  you 
came  near  paying  a  pretty  penalty  for  breaking  them. 
You  won't  get  off  the  second  time." 

"  Y"ou  are  right,  doctor;  I  now  see  that  I  acted  very 
wrongly." 

"/Bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance.'  I  am  rich 
enough  to  give  sound  advice,"  said  the  brusque  old  phy- 
sician, passing  on. 

"Stop  a  moment,  doctor,"  cried  Dennis,  kil  want  you  to 
see  my  mother." 

11  What  is  the  matter  with  her?  She  been  breaking  the 
commandments,  too?" 

"Oh,  no!"  exclaimed  Dennis.  "She  is  not  a  bit  of  a 
heathen. ' ' 

"I  am  not  so  sure  about  that.  I  know  many  eminent 
saints  in  the  church  who  will  eat  lobster  salad  for  supper, 
and  then  send  for  the  doctor  and  minister  before  morning. 
There  is  a  precious  twaddle  about  'mysterious  Providence.' 
Providence  isn't  half  so  mysterious  as  people  make  out. 
The  doctor  is  expected  to  look  serious  and  sympathetic,  and 
call  their  law- breaking  and  its  penalty  by  some  outlandish 
Latin  name  that  no  one  can  understand.  I  give  'em  the 
square  truth,  and  tell  'em  they've  been  breaking  the  com- 
mandments. ' ' 


AN    APPARITION  321 

Dennis  could  not  forbear  smiling  at  the  doctor's  rough, 
handling  of  humbug,  even  in  one  of  its  most  respectable 
guises.  Then,  remembering  his  mother,  he  added,  gravely: 
"I  am  truly  anxious  about  my  mother,  she  has  grown  so 
feeble.  I  want,  and  yet  dread,  the  truth." 

The  bantering  manner  of  the  good  old  doctor  changed 
at  once,  and  he  said,  kindly,  "I'll  come,  my  boy,  within  a 
few  days,  though  I  am  nearly  run  off  my  feet." 

He  went  off,  muttering,  "Why  don't  the  people  send  for 
some  of  the  youngsters  that  sit  kicking  up  their  heels  in 
their  offices  all  day?" 

Dennis  soon  fell  into  the  routine  of  work  and  rapidly  grew 
stronger.  But  his  face  had  acquired  a  gravity,  a  something 
in  expression  that  only  experience  gives,  which  made  him 
appear  older  by  ten  years.  All  trace  of  the  boy  had  gone, 
and  his  countenance  was  now  that  of  the  man,  and  of  one 
who  had  suffered. 

As  soon  as  he  recovered  sufficient  strength  to  act  with 
decision,  he  indignantly  tried  to  banish  Christine's  image 
from  his  memory.  But  he  found  this  impossible.  Though 
at  times  his  eyes  would  flash,  in  view  of  her  treatment,  they 
would  soon  grow  gentle  and  tender,  and  he  found  himself 
excusing  and  extenuating,  by  the  most  special  pleadings, 
that  which  he  had  justly  condemned. 

One  evening  his  mother  startled  him  out  of  a  long  rev- 
ery,  in  which  he  had  almost  vindicated  Christine,  by  saying, 
11 A  very  pleasant  smile  has  been  gradually  dawning  on  your 
face,  my  son." 

"Mother,"  replied  he,  hesitatingly,  "perhaps  I  have 
judged  Miss  Ludolph  harshly." 

"Your  love,  not  your  reason,  has  evidently  been  plead- 
ing for  her. ' ' 

"Well,  mother,  I  suppose  you  are  right." 

"So  I  suppose  the  Divine  love  pleads  for  the  weak  and 
sinful,"  said  Mrs.  Fleet,  dreamily. 

"That  is  a  very  pleasant  thought,  mother,  for  sometimes 
it  seems  that  my  love  could  make  black  white." 


322  BARRIERS  BURNED  AWAY 

"That  the  Divine  love  has  done,  bat  at  infinite  cost  to 
itself. ' ' 

"Oh  that  my  love  at  any  cost  to  itself  could  lead  her  into 
the  new  life  of  the  believer!"  said  Dennis,  in  a  low,  earnest 
tone. 

"Your  love  is  like  the  Divine  in  being  unselfish,  but 
remember  the  vital  differences  and  take  heed.  God  can 
change  the  nature  of  the  imperfect  creature  that  He  loves. 
You  cannot.  His  love  is  infinite  in  its  strength  and  pa- 
tience. You  are  human.  The  proud,  selfish,  unbelieving 
Miss  Ludolph  (pardon  mother's  plain  words)  could  not  make 
you  happy.  To  the  degree  that  you  were  loyal  to  God,  you 
would  be  unhappy,  and  I  should  surely  dread  such  a  union. 
The  whole  tone  of  your  moral  character  would  have  to  be 
greatly  lowered  to  permit  even  peace." 

"But,  mother,"  said  Dennis,  almost  impatiently,  "in 
view  of  my  unconquerable  love,  it  is  nearly  the  same 
as  if  I  were  married  to  her  now." 

"No,  my  son,  I  think  not.  I  know  your  pretty  theory 
on  this  subject,  but  it  seems  more  pretty  than  true.  Mar- 
riage makes  a  vital  difference.  It  is  the  closest  union  that 
we  can  voluntarily  form  on  earth,  and  is  the  emblem  of 
the  spiritual  oneness  of  the  believer's  soul  with  Christ. 
We  may  be  led  through  circumstances,  as  you  have  been, 
to  love  one  with  whom  we  should  not  form  such  a  union. 
Indeed,  in  the  true  and  mystic  meaning  of  the  rite,  you 
could  not  marry  Christine  Ludolph.  The  Bible  declares 
that  man  and  wife  shall  be  one.  Unless  she  changes,  unless 
you  change  (and  that  God  forbid),  this  could  not  be.  You 
would  be  divided,  separated  in  the  deepest  essentials  of 
your  life  here,  and  in  every  respect  hereafter.  Again,  while 
God  loves  every  sinful  man  and  woman,  He  does  not  take 
them  to  His  heart  till  they  cry  out  to  Him  for  strength  to 
abandon  the  destroying  evil  He  hates.  There  are  no  un- 
changed, unrenewed  hearts  in  heaven." 

"Oh,  mother,  how  inexorable  is  your  logic!"  said  Den- 
nis, breathing  heavily. 


AN   APPARITION  323 

"Truth  in  the  end  is  ever  more  merciful  than  falsehood, " 
she  answered,  gently. 

After  a  little,  he  said,  with  a  heavy  sigh,  "Mother,  you 
are  right,  and  I  am  very  weak  and  foolish. ' ' 

She  looked  at  him  with  unutterable  tenderness.  She 
could  not  crush  out  all  hope,  and  so  whispered,  as  before: 
"Prayer  is  mighty,  my  child.  It  is  not  wrong  for  you  to 
love.  It  is  your  duty,  as  well  as  privilege,  to  pray  for  her. 
Trust  your  Heavenly  Father,  do  His  will,  and  He  will  solve 
this  question  in  the  very  best  way. ' ' 

Dennis  turned  to  his  mother  in  sudden  and  passionate 
earnestness,  and  said:  "Your  prayers  are  mighty,  mother, 
I  truly  believe.  Oh,  pray  for  her — for  my  sake  as  well  as 
hers.  Looking  from  the  human  side,  I  am  hopeless.  It  is 
only  God's  almighty  power  that  can  make  us,  as  you  say, 
truly  one.  I  fear  that  now  she  is  only  a  heartless,  fashion- 
able girl.  Yet,  if  she  is  only  this,  I  do  not  see  how  I  came 
to  love  her  as  I  do.  But  my  trust  now  is  in  your  prayers 
to  God." 

"And  in  your  own  also:  the  great  Father  loves  you, 
too,  my  son.  If  He  chooses  that  the  dross  in  her  character 
should  be  burned  away,  and  your  two  lives  fused,  there  are 
in  His  providence  just  the  fiery  trials,  just  the  circumstances 
that  will  bring  it  about."  (Was  she  unconsciously  uttering 
a  prophecy  ?)  "The  crucible  of  affliction,  the  test  of  some 
great  emergency,  will  often  develop  a  seemingly  weak  and 
frivolous  girl  into  noble  life,  where  there  is  real  gold  of 
latent  worth  to  be  acted  on." 

"Christine  Ludolph  is  anything  but  weak  and  frivolous, " 
said  he.  "Her  character  is  strong,  and  I  think  most  decided 
in  its  present  bent.  But  as  you  say,  if  the  Divine  Alchemist 
wills  it,  He  can  change  even  the  dross  to  gold,  and  turn 
unbelief  to  faith." 

Hope,  Christine !  There  is  light  coming,  though  as  yet 
you  cannot  see  it.  There  are  angels  of  mercy  flying  toward 
you,  though  you  cannot  hear  the  rustle  of  their  wings.  The 
dark  curtain  of  death  and  despair  can  never  shut  down  upon 


324  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

a  life  linked  to  heaven  by  such  true,  strong  prayer.  And 
yet  the  logical  results  of  wrong-doing  will  work  themselves 
out,  sin  must  be  punished  and  faith  sorely  tried. 

Dennis  heard  incidentally  that  Christine  was  absent  on  a 
visit  to  New  York,  but  he  knew  nothing  of  the  time  of  her 
-return. 

He  now  bent  himself  steadily  and  resolutely  to  the  mas- 
tering of  his  business,  and  under  Mr.  Bruder's  direction 
resumed  his  art  studies,  though  now  in  such  moderation 
as  Dr.  Arten  would  commend. 

He  also  entered  on  an  artistic  effort  that  would  tax  his 
powers  and  genius  to  the  very  utmost,  of  which  more 
anon. 

By  the  time  Christine  returned,  he  was  quite  himself 
again,  though  much  paler  and  thinner  than  when  he  first 
entered  the  store. 

After  Christine  had  been  at  home  nearly  a  week,  her 
father,  to  rouse  her  out  of  her  listlessness,  said  one  morning: 
14  We  have  recently  received  quite  a  remarkable  painting 
from  Europe.  You  will  find  it  in  the  upper  show-room, 
and  had  better  come  down  to-day  to  see  it,  for  it  may  be 
sold  soon.  I  think  you  would  like  to  copy  one  or  two 
figures  in  it." 

The  lassitude  from  her  New  York  dissipation  was  pass- 
ing away,  and  her  active  nature  beginning  to  assert  itself 
again.  She  started  up  and  said,  "Wait  five  minutes  and 
I  will  get  sketching  materials  and  go  down  with  you. ' ' 

By  reason  of  her  interdict,  made  at  West  Point,  so  ear- 
nestly, and  indeed  fiercely,  and  confirmed  by  her  manner, 
her  father  had  never  mentioned  the  name  of  Dennis  Fleet. 
The  very  fact  that  no  one  had  spoken  of  him  since  that 
dreadful  day  when  tidings  came  in  on  every  side  that  he 
could  not  live  was  confirmation  in  her  mind  that  he  was 
dead. 

She  dreaded  going  to  the  store,  especially  for  the  first 
time,  for  everything  would  irresistibly  remind  her  of  him 


AN   APPARITION  325 

whom  she  could  not  think  of  now  without  a  pang.  But  as 
the  ordeal  must  come,  why,  the  sooner  it  was  over  the 
better.  So  a  few  moments  later  her  hand  was  on  her  father's 
arm,  and  they  were  on  their  way  to  the  Art  Building  as  in 
happier  days. 

Mr.  Ludolph  went  to  his  office,  and  Christine,  looking 
neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  ascended  to  the  upper 
show-room,  and  at  once  sought  to  engage  every  faculty  in 
making  the  sketch  her  father  had  suggested.  Since  Dennis 
was  not,  as  she  believed,  either  on  the  earth  or  elsewhere, 
she  tried  to  take  up  life  again  as  it  had  been  before  he 
came,  and  to  act  as  if  he  had  never  been. 

Hopeless  task !  In  that  familiar  place,  where  they  had 
begun  the  rearrangement  of  the  store,  everything  spoke  of 
him.  She  saw  his  glowing  cheeks;  again  his  dark,  eager 
eyes  followed  her  every  movement  and  interpreted  her 
wishes  even  before  she  could  speak.  Some  of  the  pictures 
on  the  walls  his  hands  had  handled,  and  in  her  strong  fancy 
his  lithe  form  seemed  moving  the  ladder  to  take  them  down 
again,  while  she,  with  heart  and  mind  at  rest,  looked  with 
growing  curiosity  and  interest  on  her  humble  helper. 

What  changes  had  occurred  within  a  short  half-year! 
She  shuddered  at  the  thought  that  one  who  was  then  so 
instinct  with  life  and  happiness  could  now  be  dust  and 
nothingness,  and  she  the  cause. 

Association  and  conscience  were  again  too  powerful. 
She  was  becoming  nervous  and  full  of  a  strange  unrest,  so 
she  concluded  to  finish  her  sketch  at  another  time.  As  she 
was  gathering  up  her  materials  she  heard  some  one  enter 
the  room. 

She  was  in  such  a  morbid,  unstrung  state  that  the  least 
thing  startled  her.  But  imagine  if  you  can  her  wonder  and 
terror  as  she  saw  Dennis  Fleet — the  dead  and  buried,  as  she 
fully  believed — enter,  carrying  a  picture  as  of  old,  and  look- 
ing as  of  old,  save  that  he  was  paler  and  thinner.  Was  it 
an  apparition  ?  or,  as  she  had  read,  had  she  dwelt  so  long 
on  this  trouble  that  her  mind  and  imagination  were  becom- 


326  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

ing  disordered  and  able  to  place  their  wild  creations  before 
her  as  realities  ? 

Her  sketching  materials  fell  clattering  to  the  floor,  and 
after  one  sharp  exclamation  of  alarm  she  stood  as  if  trans- 
fixed, with  parted  lips  and  dilated  eyes,  panting  like  a 
frightened  bird. 

If  a  sculptor  had  wished  to  portray  the  form  and  attitude 
of  one  startled  by  the  supernatural,  never  could  he  have 
found  a  more  fitting  model  than  Christine  at  this  moment. 

As  she  had  been  seated  a  little  on  one  side  Dennis  had 
not  seen  her  at  first;  but,  on  recognizing  her  so  unex- 
pectedly, he  was  scarcely  less  startled  than  she,  and  the 
valuable  picture  he  was  carrying  nearly  met  sudden  de- 
struction. But  he  had  no  such  reason  as  Christine  for  the 
continuance  of  his  surprise,  and,  at  once  recovering  himself, 
he  set  the  picture  against  the  wall. 

This  made  the  illusion  still  more  strange  and  terrible  to 
Christine.  There  was  the  dead  before  her,  doing  just  as  she 
had  been  imagining — just  what  he  had  done  at  her  bidding 
months  before. 

Dennis  was  greatly  puzzled  by  her  look  of  alarm  and 
distress.  Then  he  thought  that  perhaps  she  feared  he  would 
break  out  in  bitter  and  angry  invectives  again,  and  he  ad- 
vanced toward  her  to  assure  her  of  the  contrary. 

Slowly  and  instinctively  she  retreated  and  put  up  her 
hands  with  a  deprecatory  gesture. 

"She  cannot  endure  the  sight  of  me,"  thought  he,  but 
at  once  he  said,  with  dignified  courtesy:  "Miss  Ludolph, 
you  have  nothing  to  fear  from  me,  that  you  should  regard 
me  in  that  manner.  You  need  not  shrink  as  if  from  con- 
tagion. We  can  treat  each  other  as  courteous  strangers, 
at  least." 

"I— I — I — thought  you  were  dead!"  she  gasped,  in  a 
loud  whisper. 

Dennis's  cheek  grew  paler  than  it  had  been  in  all  his 
sickness,  and  then  as  suddenly  became  dark  with  anger. 
His  eyes  were  terrible  in  their  indignation  as  he  advanced 


AN   APPARITION  327 

a  few  paces  almost  fiercely.  She  trembled  violently  and 
shrunk  further  away. 

"You  thought  I  was  dead?"  he  asked,  sternly. 

"Ye-e-s,"  in  the  same  unnatural  whisper. 

"What!"  he  exclaimed,  in  short  and  bitter  emphasis, 
11  do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  never  cared  even  to  ask 
whether  I  lived  or  died  in  my  long,  weary  illness? — that 
you  were  so  supremely  indifferent  to  my  fate  that  you  could 
not  articulate  one  sentence  of  inquiry  ?  Surely  this  is  the 
very  sublimity  of  heartlessness;  this  is  to  be  callous  beyond 
one's  power  of  imagination.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  would 
feel  as  much  interest  as  that  in  any  human  being  I  had  once 
known.  If  even  a  dog  had  licked  my  hand  in  good-will, 
and  afterward  I  had  seen  it,  wounded  or  sick,  creep  off  into 
covert,  the  next  time  I  passed  that  way  I  would  step  aside 
to  see  whether  the  poor  creature  had  lived  or  died.  But 
after  all  the  wealth  of  affection  that  I  lavished  upon  you, 
after  toiling  and  almost  dying  in  my  vain  effort  to  touch 
your  marble  heart,  you  have  not  even  the  humanity  to  ask 
if  I  am  above  ground!" 

The  illusion  had  now  passed  from  Christine's  mind,  and 
with  it  her  alarm.  The  true  state  of  the  case  was  rapidly 
dawning  upon  her,  and  she  was  about  to  speak  eagerly; 
but  in  his  strong  indignation  he  continued,  impetuously: 
"You  thought  I  was  dead!  The  wish  probably  was  father 
to  the  thought.  My  presumption  deserved  no  better  fate. 
But  permit  me  to  tell  you,  though  all  unbidden,  I  did  not 
die.  With  God's  blessing  I  expect  to  live  to  a  good  old 
age,  and  intend  that  but  few  years  shall  pass  before  my 
name  is  as  well  known  and  honored  as  the  ancient  one  of 
Ludolph;"  and  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  strode  from 
the  room. 


328  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

IF  HE  KNEW! 

FOR  a  little  time  after  Dennis's  angry  tread  died  away, 
Christine  sat  almost  paralyzed  by  surprise  and  deeper 
emotion.  Her  mind,  though  usually  clear  and  rapid 
in  its  action,  was  too  confused  to  realize  the  truth.  Sud- 
denly she  sprang  up,  gathered  together  her  sketching  ma- 
terials, and  drawing  a  thick  veil  over  her  face  sped  through 
the  store,  through  the  streets,  to  the  refuge  of  her  own 
room.  She  must  be  alone. 

Eastily  throwing  aside  her  wrappings,  she  began  to  walk 
up  and -down  in  her  excitement.  Her  listlessness  was  gone 
now  in  very  truth,  and  her  eye  and  cheek  glowed  as  never 
before.  As  if  it  had  become  the  great  vivifying  principle 
of  her  own  life,  she  kept  repeating  continually  in  a  low, 
ecstatic  tone,  "He  Jives!  he  lives!  he  is  not  dead;  his  blood 
is  not  upon  my  conscience!" 

At  last  she  sat  down  in  her  luxurious  chair  before  the 
window  to  think  it  all  over — to  commune  with  herself — 
often  the  habit  of  the  reserved  and  solitary.  From  the  dis- 
jointed sentences  she  let  fall,  from  the  reflection  of  her 
excited  face  in  yonder  glass,  we  gather  quite  correctly 
the  workings  of  her  mind.  Her  first  words  were,  "Thank 
heaven!  thank  something  or  other,  I  have  not  blotted  out 
that  true,  strong  genius." 

Again— "What  untold  wretchedness  I  might  have  saved 
myself  if  I  had  only  asked  the  question,  in  a  casual  way, 
'How  is  Mr.  Fleet?'  Christine  Ludolph,  with  all  your  pride 
and  imagined  superiority,  you  can  be  very  foolish. 


IF   HE   KNEW!  329 

"How  he  hates  and  despises  me  now!  little  wonder! 

"But  if  he  knew! 

"Knew  what?  Why  could  you  not  ask  after  him,  as 
after  any  other  sick  man  ?  You  have  had  a  score  or  so  of 
offers,  and  did  not  trouble  yourself  as  to  the  fate  of  the 
lovelorn  swains.  Seems  to  me  your  conscience  has  been 
very  tender  in  this  case.  And  the  fact  that  he  misjudges 
you,  thinks  you  callous,  heartless,  and  is  angry,  troubles 
you  beyond  measure. 

"When  before  were  you  so  sensitive  to  the  opinion  of 
clerks  and  trades-people,  or  even  the  proudest  suitors  for 
your  hand  ?  But  in  this  case  you  must  cry  out,  in  a  tone 
of  sentimental  agony,  'Oh,  if  he  only  knew!1 

11  Knew  what?" 

Her  face  in  yonder  mirror  has  a  strange,  introverted  ex- 
pression, as  if  she  were  scanning  her  own  soul.  Her  brow 
contracts  with  thought  and  perplexity. 

Gradually  a  warm,  beautiful  light  steals  into  her  face, 
transforming  it  as  from  the  scowl  of  a  winter  morning  into 
a  dawn  of  June;  her  eyes  become  gentle  and  tender.  A 
rich  color  comes  out  upon  her  cheeks,  spreads  up  her 
temples,  mantles  her  brow,  and  pours  a  crimson  torrent 
down  her  snowy  neck.  Suddenly  she  drops  her  burning 
face  into  her  hands,  and  hides  a  vision  one  -would  gladly 
look  longer  upon.  But  see,  even  her  little  ears  have  be- 
come as  red  as  coral. 

The  bleakest  landscape  in  the  world  brightens  into  some- 
thing like  beauty  when  the  sun  shines  upon  it.  So  love, 
the  richer,  sweeter  light  of  the  soul,  make  the  plainest  face 
almost  beautiful;  but  when  it  changed  Christine  Ludolph's 
faultless,  yet  too  cold  and  classical,  features  into  those  of  a 
loving  woman's,  it  suggested  a  beauty  scarcely  human. 

A  moment  later  there  came  a  faint  whisper:  "I  fear — I 
almost  fear  I  love  him."  Then  she  lifted  a  startled,  fright- 
ened face  and  looked  timidly  around  as  if,  in  truth,  walls 
had  ears. 

Reassured  by  the  consciousness  of  solitude,   her  head 


330  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

dropped  on  her  wrist  and  her  revery  went  forward,  fler 
eyes  became  dreamy,  and  a  half-smile  played  upon  ker  lips 
as  she  recalled  proof  after  proof  of  his  affection,  frr  she 
knew  the  cruel  words  of  the  last  interview  were  the  result 
of  misunderstanding. 

But  suddenly  she  darted  from  her  seat  and  began  pacing 
the  room  in  the  strongest  perturbation. 

"Mocked  again!"  she  cried;  "the  same  cruel  fate!  my 
old  miserable  experience  in  a  new  aspect!  With  everything 
within  my  reach,  save  the  one  thing  I  want,  I  possess  the 
means  of  all  kinds  of  happiness  except  that  which  make? 
me  happy.  In  every  possible  way  I  am  pledged  to  a  career 
and  future  in  which  he  can  take  no  part.  Though  my  heart 
is  full  of  the  strangest,  sweetest  chaos,  and  1  do  not  truly 
understand  myself,  yet  I  am  satisfied  that  this  is  not  a  school- 
girl's fancy.  But  my  father  would  regard  it  as  the  old  farce 
repeated.  Already  he  suspects  and  frowns  upon  the  matter. 
I  should  have  to  break  with  him  utterly  and  forever.  I 
should  have  to  give  up  all  my  ambitious  plans  and  tower- 
ing hopes  of  life  abroad.  A  plain  Mrs.  in  this  city  of  shops 
is  a  poor  substitute  for  a  countess's  coronet  and  a  villa  on 
the  Ehine." 

Her  cheek  flushed,  and  her  lip  curled. 

"That  indeed  would  be  the  very  extravagance  of  ro- 
mance, and  how  could  I,  least  of  all,  who  so  long  have 
scoffed  at  such  things,  explain  my  action  ?  These  mush- 
room shopkeepers,  who  were  all  nobodies  the  other  day, 
elevate  their  eyebrows  when  a  merchant's  daughter  marries 
her  father's  clerk.  But  when  would  the  wonder  cease  if  a 
German  lady  of  rank  followed  suit  ? 

"Then  again  my  word,  my  honor,  every  sacred  pledge 
I  could  give,  forbids  such  folly. 

,  "Would  to  heaven  I  had  never  seen  him,  for  this  unfor- 
tunate fancy  of  mine  must  be  crushed  in  its  inception; 
strangled  before  it  comes  to  master  me  as  it  has  mastered 
him." 

After  a  long  and  weary  sigh   she  continued:  "Well, 


IF   HE   KNEW!  331 

everything  is  favorable  for  a  complete  and  final  break  be- 
tween us.  He  believes  me  heartless  and  wicked  to  the  last 
degree.  I  cannot  undeceive  him  without  showing  more  than 
he  should  know.  I  have  only  to  avoid  him,  to  say  nothing, 
and  we  drift  apart. 

"If  we  could  only  have  been  friends  he  might  havtf 
helped  me  so  much!  but  that  now  is  clearly  impossible — 
yes,  for  both  of  us. 

"Truly  one  of  these  American  poets  was  right: 

"  'For  of  all  sad  words  of  tongue  or  pen, 

The  saddest  are  these — It  might  have  been.' 

"But  thanks  to  the  immortal  gods,  as  the  pious  heathen 
used  to  say,  his  blood  is  not  on  my  hands,  and  this  has 
taken  a  mountain  off  my  heart.  Thus  relieved  I  can  per- 
haps forget  all  the  miserable  business.  Fate  forbids  that  I, 
as  it  has  forbidden  that  many  another  high-born  woman, 
should  marry  where  she  might  have  loved." 

If  Christine's  heart  was  wronged,  her  pride  was  highly 
gratified  by  this  conclusion.  Here  was  a  new  and  strong 
resemblance  between  herself  and  the  great.  In  mind  she 
recalled  the  titled  unfortunates  who  had  "loved  where  they 
could  not  marry,"  and  with  the  air  and  feeling  of  a  martyr 
to  ancestral  grandeur  she  pensively  added  her  name  to 
the  list. 

With  her  conscience  freed  from  its  burden  of  remorse, 
with  the  knowledge,  so  sweet  to  every  woman,  that  she 
might  accept  this  happiness  if  she  would,  in  spite  of  her 
airs  of  martyrdom,  the  world  had  changed  greatly  for  the 
better,  and  with  the  natural  buoyancy  of  youth  she  reacted 
into  quite  a  cheerful  and  hopeful  state. 

Her  father  noticed  this  on  his  return  to  dinner  in  the 
evening,  and  sought  to  learn  its  cause.  He  asked,  "How 
did  you  make  out  with  your  sketch  ?" 

"I  made  a  beginning,"  she  answered,  with  some  little 
color  rising  to  her  cheek. 

"Perhaps  you  were  interrupted?11 


332  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

4 'Why  did  you  not  tell  me  that  Mr.  Fleet  had  recov- 
ered ?"  she  asked,  abruptly. 

"  Why,  did  you  think  he  was  dead?" 

44  Yes." 

Mr.  Ludolph  indulged  in  a  hearty  laugh  (he  knew  the 
power  of  ridicule). 

4 'Well,  that  is  excellent!"  he  said.  "You  thought  the 
callow  youth  had  died  on  account  of  your  hardness  of  heart; 
and  this  explains  your  rather  peculiar  moods  and  tenses  of 
late.  Let  me  assure  you  that  a  Yankee  never  dies  from 
such  a  cause." 

Mr.  Ludolph  determined  if  possible  to  break  down  her 
reserve  and  let  in  the  garish  light,  which  he  knew  to  be 
most  fatal  to  all  romantic  fancies,  that  ever  thrive  best  in 
the  twilight  of  secrecy.  But  she  was  on  the  alert  now,  and 
in  relief  of  mind  had  regained  her  poise  and  the  power  to 
mask  her  feeling.  So  she  said  in  a  tone  tinged  with  cold 
indifference,  "You  may  be  right,  but  I  had  good  reason  to 
believe  to  the  contrary,  and,  as  I  am  not  altogether  without 
a  conscience,  you  might  have  saved  much  pain  by  merely 
mentioning  the  fact  of  his  recovery." 

"But  you  had  adjured  me  with  frightful  solemnity  never 
to  mention  his  name  again,"  said  her  father,  still  laughing. 

Christine  colored  and  bit  her  lip.  She  had  forgotten  for 
the  moment  this  awkward  fact. 

"I  was  nervous,  sick,  and  not  myself  that  day,  and  every 
one  I  met  could  speak  of  nothing  but  Mr.  Fleet. ' ' 

"Well,  really,"  he  said,  "in  the  long  list  of  the  victims 
that  you  have  wounded  if  not  slain,  I  never  supposed  my 
clerk  and  quondam  man-of-all-work  would  prove  so  serious 
a  case. ' ' 

"A  truce  to  your  bantering,  father!  Mr.  Fleet  is  humble 
only  in  station,  not  in  character,  not  in  ability.  You  know 
I  have  never  been  very  tender  with  the  'victims,'  as  you 
designate  them,  of  the  Mellen  stamp;  but  Mr.  Fleet  is  a 
man,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word,  and  one  that  I  have 
wronged.  Now  that  the  folly  is  past  I  may  as  well  explain 


IF  HE   KNEW!  333 

to  you  some  things  that  have  appeared  strange.  I  think  I 
can  truly  say  that  I  have  given  those  gentlemen  who  have 
honored,  or  rather  annoyed  me,  by  their  unwished-for  re- 
gard, very  little  encouragement.  Therefore,  I  was  not 
responsible  for  any  follies  they  might  commit.  But  for 
artistic  reasons  I  did  encourage  Mr.  Fleet's  infatuation. 
You  remember  how  I  failed  in  making  a  copy  of  that 
picture.  In  my  determination  to  succeed,  I  hit  upon  the 
rather  novel  expedient  of  inspiring  and  copying  the  genuine 
thing.  You  know  my  imitative  power  is  better  than  my 
imagination,  and  I  thought  that  by  often  witnessing  the 
expression  of  feeling  and  passion,  I  might  learn  to  portray 
it  without  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  passing  through 
any  such  experiences  myself.  But  the  experiment,  as  you 
know,  did  not  work  well.  These  living  subjects  are  hard 
to  manage,  and,  as  I  have  said,  I  am  troubled  by  a 
conscience." 

Mr.  Ludolph's  eyes  sparkled,  and  a  look  of  genuine 
admiration  lighted  up  his  features. 

"Brava!"  he  cried;  "your  plan  was  worthy  of  you  and 
of  your  ancestry.  It  was  a  real  stroke  of  genius.  You 
were  too  tender-hearted,  otherwise  it  would  have  been  per- 
fect. What  are  the  lives  of  a  dozen  such  young  fellows 
compared  with  the  development  and  perfection  of  such 
a  woman  as  you  bid  fair  to  be?" 

Christine  had  displayed  in  this  transaction  just  the  qual- 
ities that  her  father  most  admired.  But  even  she  was 
shocked  at  his  callousness,  and  lifted  a  somewhat  startled 
face  to  his. 

44  Your  estimate  of  human  life  is  rather  low,"  she  said. 

"Not  at  all.  Is  not  one  perfect  plant  better  than  a  dozen 
imperfect  ones  ?  The  gardener  often  pulls  up  the  crowding 
and  inferior  ones  to  throw  them  about  the  roots  of  the 
strongest,  that  in  their  death  and  decay  they  may  nourish 
it  to  the  highest  development.  The  application  of  this 
principle  is  evident.  They  secure  most  in  this  world  who 
have  the  skill  and  power  to  grasp  most. ' ' 


334  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

44 But  how  about  the  rights  of  others?  Conscious  men 
and  women  are  not  plants." 

"Let  them  be  on  their  guard  then.  Every  one  is  for 
himself  in  this  world.  That  can  be  plainly  seen  through 
the  thin  disguises  that  some  try  to  assume.  After  all,  half 
the  people  we  meet  are  little  better  than  summer  weeds." 

Christine  almost  shuddered  to  think  that  the  one  bound 
to  her  by  closest  ties  cherished  such  sentiments  toward  the 
world,  and  probably,  to  a  certain  extent,  toward  herself, 
but  she  only  said,  quietly:  "I  can  hardly  subscribe  to  your 
philosophy  as  yet,  though  J  fear  I  act  upon  it  too  often. 
Still  it  does  not  apply  to  Mr.  Fleet.  He  is  gifted  in  no 
ordinary  degree,  and  doubtless  will  stand  high  here  in  his 
own  land  in  time.  And  now,  as  explanation  has  been 
made,  with  your  permission  we  will  drop  this  subject  out 
of  our  conversation  as  before." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Ludolph  to  himself,  between  sips  of 
his  favorite  Ehine  wine,  "I  have  gained  much  light  on  the 
subject  to-night,  and  I  must  confess  that,  even  with  my 
rather  wide  experience,  the  whole  thing  is  a  decided  novelty. 
If  Christine  were  only  less  troubled  with  conscience,  over- 
fastidiousness,  or  whatever  it  is — if  she  were  more  moderate 
in  her  ambition  as  an  artist,  and  could  be  satisfied  with 
power  and  admiration,  as  other  women  are — what  a  star  she 
might  become  in  the  fashionable  world  of  Europe!  But, 
for  some  reason,  I  never  feel  sure  of  her.  Her  spirit  is  so 
wilful  and  obstinate,  and  she  seems  so  full  of  vague  longing 
after  an  ideal,  impossible  world,  that  I  live  in  constant  dread 
that  she  may  be  led  into  some  folly  fatal  to  my  ambition. 
This  Fleet  is  a  most  dangerous  fellow.  I  wish  I  were  well 
rid  of  him;  still,'  matters  are  not  so  bad  as  I  feared — that 
is,  if  she  told  me  the  whole  truth,  which  I  am  inclined  to 
doubt.  But  I  had  better  keep  him  in  my  employ  during 
the  few  months  we  still  remain  in  this  land,  as  I  can  watch 
over  him,  and  guard  against  his  influence  better  than  if  he 
were  beyond  my  control.  But  no  more  promotion  or  encour- 
agement does  he  get  from  me. '  ' 


IF  HE  KNEW!  335 

Janette,  Christine's  French  maid,  passed  the  open  door. 
The  thought  struck  Mr.  Ludolph  that  he  might  secure  an 
ally  in  her. 

The  unscrupulous  creature  was  summoned,  and  agreed 
for  no  very  large  sum  to  become  a  spy  upon  Christine, 
and  report  anything  looking  toward  friendly  relations  with 
Dennis  Fleet. 

"The  game  is  still  in  my  hands,"  said  the  wary  man. 
"i  will  yet  steer  my  richly-freighted  argosy  up  the  Ehine. 
Here's  to  Christine,  the  belle  of  the  German  court!"  and 
he  filled  a  slender  Venetian  glass  to  the  brim,  drained 
it,  and  then  retired. 

Christine,  on  reaching  her  room,  muttered  to  herself: 
"He  now  knows  all  that  I  mean  he  ever  shall.  We  are  one 
in  our  ambition,  if  nothing  else,  and  therefore  our  relations 
must  be  to  a  certain  degree  confidential  and  amicable.  And 
now  forget  you  have  a  conscience,  forget  you  have  a  heart, 
and,  above  all  things,  forget  that  you  have  ever  seen  or 
known  Dennis  Fleet." 

Thus  the  influence  of  a  false  education,  a  proud,  selfish, 
ambitious  life,  decided  her  choice.  She  plunged  as  reso- 
lutely into  the  whirl  of  fashionable  gayety  about  her  as  she 
had  in  the  dissipations  of  New  York,  determined  to  forget 
the  past,  and  kill  the  time  that  must  intervene  before  she 
could  sail  away  to  her  brilliant  future  in  Germany. 

But  she  gradually  learned  that,  if  conscience  had  robbed 
her  of  peace  before,  something  else  disturbed  her  now,  and 
rendered  her  efforts  futile.  She  found  that  there  was  a 
principle  at  work  in  her  heart  stronger  even  than  her  reso- 
lute will.  In  spite  of  her  purpose  to  the  contrary,  she 
caught  herself  continually  thinking  of  Dennis,  and  indulg- 
ing in  strange,  delicious  reveries  in  regard  to  him. 

At  last  she  ceased  to  shun  the  store  as  she  had  done  at 
first,  but  with  increasing  frequency  found  some  necessity  for 
going  there. 

After  the  interview  in  the  show-room,  Dennis  was  driven 
to  the  bitter  conclusion  that  Christine  was  utterly  heartless, 


336  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

and  cared  not  a  jot  for  him.  His  impression  was  confirmed 
by  the  fact  that  she  shunned  the  store,  and  that  he  soon 
heard  of  her  as  a  belle  and  leader  in  the  ultra-fashionable 
world.  He,  too,  bitterly  lamented  that  he  had  ever  seen 
her,  and  was  struggling  with  all  the  power  of  his  will  to 
forget  her.  He  fiercely  resolved  that,  since  she  wished  him 
dead,  she  should  become  dead  to  him. 

Almost  immediately  after  his  return  he  had  discovered 
that  the  two  emblematical  pictures  had  been  removed  from 
the  loft  over  the  store.  He  remembered  that  he  had  spoken 
of  them  to  Christine,  and  from  Ernst  he  gathered  that  she 
herself  had  taken  them  away.  It  was  possible,  he  believed, 
that  she  had  made  them  the  subject  of  ridicule.  At  best 
she  must  have  destroyed  them  in  order  to  blot  out  all  trace 
of  a  disagreeable  episode.  Whatever  may  have  been  their 
fate,  they  had,  as  he  thought,  failed  in  their  purpose,  and 
were  worthless  to  him,  and  he  was  far  too  proud  to  make 
inquiries. 

As  the  weeks  passed  on,  he  apparently  succeeded  better 
than  she.  There  was  nothing  in  her  character,  as  she  then 
appeared,  that  appealed  to  anything  gentle  or  generous. 
She  seemed  so  proud,  so  strong  and  resolute  in  her  choice 
of  evil,  so  devoid  of  the  true  womanly  nature,  as  he  had 
learned  to  reverence  it  in  his  mother,  that  he  could  not  pity, 
much  less  respect  her,  and  even  his  love  could  scarcely  sur- 
vive under  such  circumstances. 

When  she  began  coming  to  the  store  again,  though  his 
heart  beat  thick  and  fast  at  her  presence,  he  turned  his 
back  and  seemed  not  to  see  her,  or  made  some  errand  to 
a  remote  part  of  the  building.  At  first  she  thought  this 
might  be  accident,  but  she  soon  found  it  a  resolute  pur- 
pose to  ignore  her  very  existence.  By  reason  of  a  trait 
peculiar  to  Christine,  this  was  only  the  more  stimulat- 
ing. She  craved  all  the  more  that  which  was  seemingly 
denied. 

Accustomed  to  every  gratification,  to  see  all  yield  to  her 
wishes,  and  especially  to  find  gentlemen  almost  powerless 


IF    HE    KNEW!  337 

10  resist  her  beauty,  she  came  to  regard  this  one  stern, 
averted  face  as  infinitely  more  attractive  than  all  the  rest 
in  the  world. 

"That  he  so  steadily  avoids  me  proves  that  he  is  any- 
thing but  indifferent,"  sjie  said  to  herself  one  day. 

She  condemned  her  visits  to  the  store,  and  often  re- 
proached herself  with  folly  in  going;  but  a  secret  powerful 
magnetism  drew  her  thither  in  spite  of  herself. 

Dennis,  too,  soon  noticed  that  she  came  often,  and  the 
fact  awakened  a  faint  hope  within  him.  He  learned  that 
his  love  was  not  dead,  but  only  chilled  and  chained  by 
circumstances  and  his  own  strong  will.  True,  apart  from 
the  fact  of  her  coming,  she  gave  him  no  encouragement. 
She  was  as  distant  and  seemingly  oblivious  of  his  existence 
as  he  of  hers,  but  love  can  gather  hope  from  a  marvellously 
little  thing. 

But  one  day  Christine  detected  her  father  watching  her 
movements  with  the  keenest  scrutiny,  and  after  that  she 
came  more  and  more  rarely.  The  hope  that  for  a  moment 
had  tinged  the  darkness  surrounding  Dennis  died  away  like 
the  meteor's  transient  light. 

He  went  into  society  very  little  after  his  illness,  and 
shunned  large  companies.  He  preferred  to  spend  his  even- 
ings with  his  mother  and  in  study.  The  Winthrops  were 
gone,  having  removed  to  their  old  home  in  Boston,  and 
he  had  not  formed  very  intimate  acquaintances  elsewhere. 
Moreover,  his  limited  circle,  though  of  the  best  and  most 
refined,  was  not  one  in  which  Christine  often  appeared. 

But  one  evening  his  cheek  paled  and  his  heart  fluttered 
as  he  saw  her  entering  the  parlors  of  a  lady  by  whom  he 
had  been  invited  to  meet  a  few  friends.  For  some  little 
time  he  studiously  avoided  her,  but  at  last  his  hostess,  with 
well-meant  zeal,  formally  presented  him. 

They  bowed  very  politely  and  very  coldly.  The  lady 
surmised  that  Christine  did  not  care  about  the  acquaintance 
of  her  father's  clerk,  and  so  brought  them  no  more  together. 
But  Christine  was  pained  by  Dennis's  icy  manner,  and  saw 

ROE—  V— is 


338  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

that  she  was  thoroughly  misunderstood.     When  asked  to 
sing,  she  chose  a  rather  significant  ditty : 

•'Ripple,  sparkle,  rapid  stream, 
Let  your  dancing  wavelets  gleam 

Quiveringly  and  bright; 
Children  think  the  surface  glow 
Beaches  to  the  depth  below, 

Hidden  from  the  light. 

"Human  faces  often  seem 
Like  the  sparkle  of  the  stream, 

In  the  social  glare ; 
Some  assert,  in  wisdom's  guise, 
(Look  they  not  with  children's  eyes?) 

All  is  surface  there." 

As  she  rose  from  the  piano  her  glance  met  his  with  some- 
thing like  meaning  in  it,  he  imagined.  He  started,  flushed, 
and  his  face  became  full  of  eager  questioning.  But  her 
father  was  on  the  watch  also,  and,  placing  his  daughter's 
hand  within  his  arm,  he  led  her  into  the  front  parlor,  and 
soon  after  they  pleaded  another  engagement  and  vanished 
altogether. 

No  chance  for  explanation  came,  and  soon  a  new  and  all- 
absorbing  anxiety  filled  Dennis's  heart,  and  the  shadow  of 
the  greatest  sorrow  that  he  had  yet  experienced  daily  drew 
nearer. 


THE   GATES    OPEN  339 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

THE   GATES   OPEN 

AT  Dennis's  request,  Dr.  Arten  called  and  carefully  in- 
quired into  Mrs.  Fleet's  symptoms.  Her  son  stood 
anxiously  by  awaiting  the  result  of  the  examination. 
At  last  the  physician  said,  cheerily:  "  There  is  no  immedi- 
ate occasion  for  alarm  here.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  your 
mother's  lungs  are  far  from  strong,  but  they  may  carry  her 
through  many  comfortable  years  yet.  I  will  prescribe 
tonics,  and  you  may  hope  for  the  best.  But  mark  this 
well,  she  must  avoid  exposure.  A  severe  cold  might  be 
most  serious  in  its  consequences." 

How  easy  to  say,  "Do  not  take  cold!"  How  many 
whose  lives  were  at  stake  have  sought  to  obey  the  warn- 
ing, but  all  in  vain!  Under  Dr.  Arten's  tonics,  Mrs.  Fleet 
grew  stronger,  and  Dennis  rejoiced  over  the  improvement. 
But,  in  one  of  the  sudden  changes  attendant  on  the  break- 
ing up  of  winter,  the  dreaded  cold  was  taken,  and  it  soon 
developed  into  acute  pneumonia. 

For  a  few  days  she  was  very  ill,  and  Dennis  never  left 
her  side.  In  the  intervals  of  pain  and  fever  she  would 
smile  at  him  and  whisper:  "The  harbor  is  near.  This 
rough  weather  cannot  last  much  longer." 

"Mother,  do  not  leave  us;  we  cannot  spare  you,"  ever 
pleaded  her  son. 

Contrary  to  her  expectations,  however,  she  rallied,  but 
continued  in  a  very  feeble  state.  Dennis  was  able  to  re- 
sume his  duties  in  the  store,  and  he  hoped  and  tried  to 
believe  that  the  warm  spring  and  summer  days  soon  to  come 


340  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

would  renew  his  mother's  strength.  But  every  day  she 
grew  feebler,  and  Dr.  Arten  shook  his  head. 

The  Bruders  were  very  kind,  and  it  was  astonishing  how 
much  Mrs.  Bruder,  though  burdened  with  her  large  family, 
found  time  to  do.  If  Mrs.  Fleet  had  been  her  own  mother 
she  could  not  have  bestowed  upon  her  more  loving  solici- 
tude. Mr.  Bruder  was  devotion  itself.  He  removed  his 
easel  to  an  attic-room  in  Mrs.  Fleet's  house;  and  every  hour 
of  Dennis's  absence  heard  him  say:  "Vat  I  do  for  you  now? 
I  feel  no  goot  unless  I  do  someding. " 

Some  little  time  after  Mrs.  Fleet  was  taken  sick  a  mys- 
tery arose.  The  most  exquisite  flowers  and  fruits  were  left 
at  the  house  from  time  to  time,  marked  in  a  bold,  manly 
hand,  "For  Mrs.  Fleet."  But  all  efforts  to  discover  their 
source  failed. 

The  reader  will  guess  that  Christine  was  the  donor,  and 
Dennis  hoped  it — though,  he  admitted  to  himself,  with  little 
reason. 

Mrs.  Fleet  had  not  much  pain.  She  seemed  gently 
wafted  as  by  an  ebbing  tide  away  from  time  and  earth. 
Kindly  but  firmly  she  sought  to  prepare  Dennis's  mind  for 
the  change  soon  to  take  place.  At  first  he  could  not  endure 
its  mention,  but  she  said,  earnestly:  "My  son,  I  am  not 
dying.  I  am  just  entering  on  the  true,  real,  eternal  life — 
a  life  which  is  as  much  beyond  this  poor  feeble  existence 
as  the  sun  is  brighter  than  a  glow-worm.  I  shall  soon  clasp 
my  dear  husband  to  my  heart  again,  and,  oh,  ecstasy!  I 
shall  soon  in  reality  see  the  Saviour  whom  I  now  see  almost 
continually  in  vision." 

Then  again  she  would  turn  toward  her  earthly  treasures 
with  unutterable  yearning  and  tenderness.  ^ 

"Oh,  that  I  could  gather  you  up  in  my  arms  and  take 
you  all  with  me!"  she  would  often  exclaim.  Many  times 
during  the  day  she  would  call  the  little  girls  from  their 
play  and  kiss  their  wondering  faces. 

One  evening  Dennis  came  home  and  found  a  vase  of 
flowers  with  a  green  background  of  mint  at  his  mother's 


THE   GATES   OPEN  841 

bedside.  Their  delicate  fragrance  greeted  him  as  soon  as 
he  entered.  As  he  sat  by  her  side  holding  her  hand,  he 
said,  softly:  "Mother,  are  not  these  sprays  of  mint  rather 
unusual  in  a  bouquet?  Has  the  plant  any  special  mean- 
ing ?  I  have  noticed  it  before  mingled  with  these  mysterious 
flowers." 

She  smiled  and  answered,  "When  I  was  a  girl  its  lan- 
guage was,  'Let  us  be  friends  again.7  " 

41  Do  you  think — can  it  be  possible  that  she  sends  them  ?M 
said  he.  in  a  low,  hesitating  tone. 

"Prayer  is  mighty,  my  son." 

"And  have  you  been  praying  for  her  all  this  time, 
mother?" 

"Yes,  and  will  continue  to  do  so  to  the  last." 

"Oh,  mother!  I  have  lost  hope.  My  heart  has  been 
full  of  bitterness  toward  her,  and  I  have  felt  that  God  was 
against  it  all." 

"God  is  not  against  her  learning  to  know  Him,  which  is 
life.  Jesus  has  loved  her  all  the  time,  and  she  has  wronged 
Him  more  than  she  has  you.1' 

Dennis  bowed  his  head  on  his  mother's  hand,  and  she  felt 
hot  tears  fall  upon  it.  At  last  he  murmured:  "You  are  in- 
deed going  to  heaven  soon,  dear  mother,  for  your  language 
is  not  of  earth.  When  will  such  a  spirit  dwell  within  me  ?" 

"Again  remember  your  mother's  words,"  she  answered, 
gently;  "prayer  is  mighty. " 

"Mother,"  said  he,  with  a  sudden  earnestness,  "do  you 
think  you  can  pray  for  us  in  heaven  ?' ' 

"I  know  of  no  reason  to  the  contrary." 

"Then  I  know  you  will,  and  the  belief  will  ever  be  a 
source  of  hope  and  strength." 

Mrs.  Fleet  was  now  passing  through  the  land  of  Beulah. 
To  her  strong  spiritual  vision,  the  glories  of  the  other  shore 
seemed  present,  and  at  times  she  thought  that  she  really 
heard  music;  again  it  would  seem  as  if  her  Saviour  had 
entered  the  plain  little  room,  as  He  did  the  humble  home 
at  Bethany. 


342  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Her  thoughts  ran  much  on  Christine.    One  day  she  wrote, 

feebly: 

"Would  Miss  Ludolph  be  willing  to  come  and  see  a  dying  woman  ? 

"ETHEL  FLEET." 

Mr.  Bruder  carried  it,  but  most  unfortunately  Christine 
was  out,  so  that  her  maid,  ever  on  the  alert  to  earn  the 
price  of  her  treachery,  received  it.  It  was  slightly  sealed. 
She  opened  it,  and  saw  from  its  contents  that  it  must  be 
given  to  Mr.  Ludolph.  He  with  a  frown  committed  it  to 
the  flames. 

"I  have  written  to  her,"  she  whispered  to  her  son  in  the 
evening,  "and  think  she  will  come  to  see  me." 

Dennis  was  sleepless  that  night,  through  his  hope  and 
eager  expectation.  The  following  day,  and  the  next  passed, 
and  she  came  not. 

"I  was  right,"  exclaimed  he,  bitterly.  "She  is  utterly 
heartless.  It  was  not  she  who  sent  the  flowers.  Who  that 
is  human  would  have  refused  such  a  request!  Waste  no 
more  thought  upon  her,  for  she  is  unworthy,  and  it  is  all 
in  vain." 

"No!"  said  Mrs.  Fleet  in  sudden  energy.  "It  is  not  in 
vain.  Have  I  not  prayed  again  and  again?  and  shall  I 
doubt  God?" 

"Your  faith  is  stronger  than  mine,"  he  answered,  in 
deep  despondency. 

"God's  time  is  not  always  ours,"  she  answered,  gently. 

But  an  angry  fire  lurked  in  Dennis's  eyes,  and  he  mut- 
tered to  himself  as  he  went  to  his  room:  "She  has  snapped 
the  last  slender  cord  that  bound  me  to  her.  I  could  endure 
almost  anything  myself,  but  that  she  should  refuse  to 
visit  my  dying  mother  proves  her  a  monster,  with  all  her 
beauty." 

As  he  was  leaving  the  house  in  the  morning,  his  mother 
whispered,  gently,  "Who  was  it  that  said,  'Father,  forgive 
them,  they  know  not  what  they  do  ?' ' 

"Ah,  but  she  does  know,"  said  he,  bitterly.     "I  can 


THE   GATES   OPEN  343 

forgive  nearly  everything  against  myself,  but  not  slights 
to  you.'1 

"The  time  will  come  when  you  will  forgive  everything, 
my  son. ' ' 

"Not  till  there  is  acknowledgment  and  sorrow  for  the 
wrong,"  answered  he,  sternly.  Then  with  a  sudden  burst 
of  tenderness  he  added:  "Good- by,  darling  mother.  I  will 
try  to  do  anything  you  wish,  even  though  it  is  impossible;" 
but  his  love,  through  Janette's  treachery,  suffered  the  deep- 
est wound  it  had  yet  received. 

Christine  of  her  own  accord  had  almost  decided  to  call 
upon  Mrs.  Fleet,  but  before  she  could  carry  out  her  purpose 
while  hastily  coming  downstairs  one  day,  she  sprained  her 
ankle,  and  was  confined  to  her  room  some  little  time. 

She  sent  Janette  with  orders  for  the  flowers,  who,  at  once 
surmising  their  destination,  said  to  the  florist  that  she  was 
Miss  Ludolph's  confidential  maid,  and  would  carry  them  to 
those  for  whom  they  were  designed.  He,  thinking  it  "all 
right,"  gave  them  to  her,  and  she  took  them  to  a  French- 
man in  the  same  trade  whom  she  knew,  and  sold  them  at 
half-price,  giving  him  a  significant  sign  to  ask  no  ques- 
tions. To  the  same  market  she  brought  the  fruit;  so  from 
that  time  they  ceased  as  mysteriously  as  they  had  appeared 
at  Mrs.  Fleet's  bedside. 

But  Dennis  was  so  anxious,  and  his  mother  was  now 
failing  so  rapidly,  that  he  scarcely  noted  this  fact.  The 
warm  spring  days  seemed  rather  to  enervate  than  to 
strengthen  her.  He  longed  to  stay  with  her  constantly, 
but  his  daily  labor  was  necessary  to  secure  the  comforts 
needful  to  an  invalid.  Every  morning  he  bade  her  a  most 
tender  adieu,  and  during  the  day  often  sent  Ernst  to  inquire 
how  she  was. 

One  evening  Christine  ventured  to  send  Janette  on  the 
same  errand  and  impatiently  awaited  her  return.  At  last 
she  came,  appearing  as  if  flushed  and  angry. 

"Whom  did  you  see?  "  asked  Christine,  eagerly. 

"I  saw  Mr.  Fleet  himself." 


344  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

"Well,  what  did  he  say?" 

"He  bite  his  lip,  frown,  and  say,  'Zere  is  no  answer,' 
and  turn  on  his  heel  into  ze  house.'7 

It  was  now  Christine's  turn  to  be  angry.  "  Whatl"  she 
exclaimed,  "does  his  Bible  teach  him  to  forget  and  forgive 
nothing  ?  Can  it  be  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  them,  believes 
and  acts  on  only  such  parts  as  are  to  his  mood?" 

"I  don't  know  nothing  about  him,"  said  the  maid,  "only 
I  don't  want  to  go  zere  again." 

"You  need  not,"  was  the  brief  reply. 

After  a  long,  bitter  revery,  she  sighed:  "Ah,  well,  thus 
we  drift  apart.  But  it  is  just  as  well,  for  apart  we  must 
ever  be." 

One  morning  early  in  May  Mrs.  Fleet  was  very  weak, 
and  Dennis  left  her  with  painful  misgivings.  During  the 
morning  he  sent  Ernst  to  see  how  she  was,  and  he  soon 
returned,  with  wild  face,  crying,  "Come  home  quick!" 

Breaking  abruptly  from  his  startled  customer,  Dennis 
soon  reached  his  mother's  side.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruder  were 
sobbing  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  the  girls  were  pleading 
piteously  on  either  side — "Oh,  mother!  please  don't  go 
away!" 

"Hush!"  said  Dennis,  solemnly.  Awed  by  his  manner, 
all  became  comparatively  silent.  He  bent  over  the  bed,  and 
said,  "Mother,  you  are  leaving  us." 

The  voice  of  her  beloved  son  rallied  the  dying  woman's 
wandering  mind.  After  a  moment  she  recognized  him, 
smiled  faintly,  and  whispered:  "Yes,  I  think  I  am — kiss 
me — good- by.  Bring — the  children.  Jesus — take  care — my 
little — lambs.  Good-by — true — honest  friends — meet  me — 
heaven.  Dennis — these  children — your  charge — bring  them 
home — to  me.  Pray  for  her.  I  don't  know — why — she  seems 
very  — near  to  me.  Farewell — my  good — true — son — mother's 
blessing — God's  blessing — ever  rest — on  you." 

Her  eyes  closed,  and  she  fell  into  a  gentle  sleep. 

"She  vake  no  more  in  dis  vorld,"  said  Mrs.  Bruder,  in 
an  awed  tone. 


THE   GATES   OPEN  345 

Mr.  Bruder,  unable  to  control  his  feelings  any  longer, 
hurried  from  the  room.  His  wife,  with  streaming  eyes, 
silently  dressed  the  little  girls,  and  took  them  home  with 
her,  crying  piteously  all  the  way  for  mamma. 

Pale,  tearless,  motionless,  Dennis  sat,  hour  after  hour 
holding  his  mother's  hand.  He  noted  that  her  pulse  grew 
more  and  more  feeble.  At  last  the  sun  in  setting  broke 
through  the  clouds  that  had  obscured  it  all  day,  and  filled 
the  room  with  a  sudden  glory. 

To  Dennis's  great  surprise,  his  mother's  eyes  opened 
wide,  with  the  strange,  far-off  look  they  ever  had  when  she 
was  picturing  to  herself  the  unknown  world. 

Her  lips  moved.  He  bent  over  her  and  caught  the  words: 
44 Hark !  hear ! — It  never  was  so  sweet  before.  See  the  angels 
—thronging  toward  me — they  never  came  so  near  before. ' ' 

Then  a  smile  of  joy  and  welcome  lighted  up  her  wan 
features,  and  she  whispered,  "Oh,  Dennis,  husband — are  we 
once  more  united  ?' ' 

Suddenly  there  was  a  look  of  ecstasy  such  as  her  son  had 
never  seen  on  any  human  face,  and  she  cried  almost  aloud, 
"Jesus— my  Saviour!"  and  received,  as  it  were,  directly 
into  His  arms,  she  passed  from  earth. 

We  touch  briefly  on  the  scenes  that  followed.  Dennis 
took  the  body  of  his  mother  to  her  old  home,  and  buried  it 
under  the  wide-spreading  elm  in  the  village  churchyard, 
where  as  a  happy  child  and  blooming  maiden  she  had  often 
sat  between  the  services.  It  was  his  purpose  to  remove  the 
remains  of  his  father  and  place  them  by  her  side  as  soon 
as  he  could  afford  it. 

His  little  sisters  accompanied  him  east,  and  he  found  a 
home  for  them  with  a  sister  of  his  mother,  who  was  a  good, 
kind,  Christian  lady.  Dennis's  salary  was  not  large,  but 
sufficient  to  insure  that  his  sisters  would  be  no  burden 
to  his  aunt,  who  was  in  rather  straitened  circumstances. 
He  also  arranged  that  the  small  annuity  should  be  paid  for 
their  benefit. 

It  was  hard  parting  from  his  sisters,  whose  little  hearts 


346  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

seemed  breaking  at  what  appeared  to  them  to  be  a  new 
bereavement. 

"How  can  I  leave  them!"  he  exclaimed,  with  tears  fall- 
ing fast  from  his  eyes. 

"They  are  children,"  said  his  aunt,  soothingly,  "and 
will  forget  their  troubles  in  a  few  days." 

And  so  it  proved;  but  Dennis,  with  a  sore  heart,  and 
feeling  very  lonely,  returned  to  Chicago. 

When  at  last  Christine  got  out  again,  she  learned  from 
Ernst  at  the  store  that  Dennis's  mother  had  died,  and  that 
he  had  taken  the  remains  and  his  sisters  east.  In  his  sorrow 
he  seemed  doubly  interesting  to  her. 

"How  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  cheer  and  comfort 
him!"  she  sighed,  "and  yet  I  fear  my  ability  to  do  this  is 
less  than  that  of  any  one  else.  In  very  truth  he  seems  to 
despise  and  hate  me  now.  The  barriers  between  us  grow 
stronger  and  higher  every  day.  How  different  it  all  might 
have  been  if —  But  what  is  the  use  of  these  wretched  'ifs'? 
What  is  the  use  of  resisting  this  blind,  remorseless  fate  that 
brings  happiness  to  one  and  crushes  another?" 

Wearily  and  despondingly  she  rode  back  to  the  elegant 
home  in  which  she  found  so  little  enjoyment. 

Whom  should  she  met  there  but  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem 
from  New  York,  bound  westward  with  a  gay  party  on  a 
trip  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  California?  They  had 
stopped  to  spend  a  few  days  in  Chicago,  and  were  deter- 
mined to  take  Christine  on  with  them.  Her  father  strongly 
seconded  the  plan.  Though  Christine  surmised  his  motive, 
she  did  not  care  to  resist.  Since  she  would  soon  be  sep- 
arated from  Dennis  forever,  the  less  she  saw  of  him  the 
less  would  be  the  pain.  Moreover,  her  sore  and  heavy  heart 
welcomed  any  change  that  would  cause  f orgetf ulness ;  and 
so  it  was  speedily  arranged. 

Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem  and  her  party  quite  took  possession  of 
the  Ludolph  mansion,  and  often  made  it  echo  with  gayety. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  that  Dennis  buried  his  mother, 
Ernst  went  over  at  Mr.  Ludolph 's  request  to  carry  a  mes- 


THE    GATES    OPEN  347 

sage.  He  found  the  house  the  scene  of  a  fashionable  revel. 
There  were  music  and  dancing  in  the  parlors,  and  from  the 
dining-room  the  clink  of  glasses  and  loud  peals  of  laughter 
proved  that  this  was  not  Christine's  ideal  of  an  entertain- 
ment as  she  had  portrayed  it  to  her  father  on  a  former  occa- 
sion. In  truth,  she  had  little  to  do  with  the  affair;  it  was 
quite  impromptu,  and  Mr.  Ludolph  and  Mrs.  Von  Brakhiem 
were  responsible  for  it. 

But  Ernst  could  not  know  this,  and  to  him  it  seemed 
shocking.  The  simple  funeral  service  taking  place  on  that 
day  in  the  distant  New  England  village  had  never  been 
absent  from  his  thoughts  a  moment.  Since  early  morning 
he  had  gone  about  with  his  little  face  composed  to  funereal 
gravity. 

His  simple,  warm-hearted  parents  felt  that  they  could 
only  show  proper  respect  for  the  occasion  by  the  deepest 
gloom.  Their  rooms  were  arranged  in  stiff  and  formal 
manner,  with  crape  here  and  there.  All  unnecessary  work 
ceased,  and  the  children,  forbidden  to  play,  were  dressed 
in  mourning  as  far  as  possible,  and  made  to  sit  in  solemn 
and  dreadful  state  all  day.  It  would  not  have  surprised 
Ernst  if  the  whole  city  had  gone  into  mourning.  Therefore 
the  revelry  at  the  Ludolph  mansion  seemed  to  him  heartless 
and  awful  beyond  measure,  and  nearly  the  first  things  he 
told  Dennis  on  the  latter's  return  was  that  they  had  had 
kla  great  dancing  and  drinking  party,  the  night  of  the  fu- 
neral, at  Mr.  Ludolph's. "  Then,  trying  to  find  some  expla- 
nation for  what  seemed  to  him  such  a  strange  and  wicked 
thing,  he  suggested,  "Perhaps  they  meant  it  for  a  wake." 

Poor  little  Ernst's  ideas  of  the  world,  outside  of  his 
home,  had  been  gathered  from  a  very  low  neighborhood. 

He  also  handed  Dennis  a  letter  that  Mr.  Ludolph  re- 
quested should  be  given  him  on  his  return.  It  read  as 
follows: 

"CHICAGO,  May  6,  1871. 

**I  have  been  compelled  to  supply  your  place  in  your  absence:  therefore 
your  services  will  be  no  longer  rfeeded  at  this  store.  Inclosed  you  will  find  a 
check  for  the  small  balance  still  due  you.  AUGUST  LUDOLPH." 


348  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Dennis's  brow  grew  very  dark,  and  in  bitter  soliloquy  he 
said,  half  aloud,  as  he  strode  up  and  down  his  little  room 
in  great  agitation:  "And  so  it  all  ends!  The  girl  at  whose 
side  my  mother  would  have  watched  in  the  most  dangerous 
and  loathsome  of  diseases;  the  woman  of  ice  whom  I  sought 
to  melt  and  render  human  by  as  warm,  true  love  as  ever 
man  lavished  on  one  who  rewarded  his  affection — this  beau- 
tiful monster  will  not  even  visit  my  mother  when  dying; 
she  holds  a  revel  on  the  day  of  the  funeral;  and  now, 
through  her  influence  no  doubt,  I  am  robbed  of  the  chance 
of  winning  honest  bread.  She  cannot  even  endure  the  sight 
of  the  man  who  once  told  her  the  unvarnished  truth.  Poor 
as  you  deem  me,  Christine  Ludolph,  with  God's  help  not 
many  years  shall  pass  before  it  will  be  condescension  on 
my  part  to  recognize  you." 

He  would  not  even  go  to  the  store  again.  The  Bruders, 
having  heard  what  had  occurred,  took  Ernst  away  also;  but 
Dennis  soon  found  him  a  better  situation  elsewhere. 

The  day  on  which  Dennis  returned,  Christine  was  speed- 
ing in  a  palace-car  toward  the  Eocky  Mountains,  outwardly 
gay,  determined  to  enjoy  herself  and  carry  out  her  reckless 
purpose  to  get  the  most  possible  out  of  life,  cost  what  it 
might. 

If  she  had  been  a  shallow  girl,  thoughtless  and  vain, 
with  only  mind  enough  to  take  in  the  events  of  the  passing 
moment,  she  might  have  bought  many  fleeting  pleasures 
with  her  abundant  wealth.  But  this  she  was  not,  with  all 
her  faults,  and  wherever  she  went,  in  the  midst  of  gayest 
scenes,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  grandest  and  most  inspir- 
ing scenery,  thought  and  memory,  like  two  spectres  that  no 
spell  could  lay,  haunted  her  and  robbed  her  of  peace  and 
any  approach  to  happiness.  Though  possessing  the  means 
of  gratifying  every  whim,  though  restrained  by  no  scruples 
from  doing  what  she  chose,  she  felt  that  all  around  were 
getting  more  from  life  than  she. 

During  her  absence  she  experienced  a  sudden  and  severe 
attack  of  illness.  Her  friends  were  much  alarmed  about  her, 


THE    GATES    OPEN  349 

and  she  far  more  about  herself.  All  her  old  terror  returned. 
In  one  respe*ct  she  was  like  her  mother;  she  had  no  physical 
courage,  but  shrank  with  inexpressible  dread  from  danger, 
pain,  and  death.  Again  the  blackness  of  darkness  gathered 
round  her,  and  not  one  in  the  gay  pleasure  party  could  say 
a  word  to  comfort  her. 

She  recovered,  and  soon  regained  her  usual  health,  but 
her  self-confidence  was  more  thoroughly  shaken.  She  felt 
like  one  in  a  little  cockle-shell  boat  out  upon  a  shoreless 
ocean.  While  the  treacherous  sea  remained  calm,  all  might 
be  well,  but  she  knew  that  a  storm  would  soon  arise,  and 
that  she  must  go  down,  beyond  remedy.  Again  she  had 
been  taught  how  suddenly,  how  unexpectedly,  that  storm 
might  rise. 

Dennis  resolved  at  once  to  enter  on  the  career  of  an  artist. 
He  sold  to  Mr.  French,  at  a  moderate  price,  some  paintings 
and  sketches  he  had  made.  He  rented  a  small  room  that 
became  his  studio,  sleeping-apartment — in  brief,  his  home, 
and  then  went  to  work  with  all  the  ordinary  incentives  to 
success  intensified  by  his  purpose  to  reach  a  social  height 
that  would  compel  Christine  to  look  upward  if  their  ac- 
quaintance were  renewed. 

Disappointment  in  love  is  one  of  the  severest  tests  of 
character  in  man  or  woman.  Some  sink  into  weak  senti- 
mentality, and  mope  and  languish;  some  become  listless, 
apathetic,  and  float  down  the  current  of  existence  like  drift- 
wood. Men  are  often  harsh  and  cynical,  and  rail  at  the  sex 
to  which  their  mothers  and  sisters  belong.  Sometimes  a  man 
inflicts  a  wellnigh  fatal  wound  and  leaves  his  victim  to  cure 
it  as  best  she  may.  From  that  time  forth  she  may  be  like 
the  wronged  Indian,  who  slays  as  many  white  men  as  he 
can.  Not  a  few,  on  finding  they  cannot  enter  the  beautiful 
paradise  of  happy  love,  plunge  into  imbruting  vice,  and 
drown  not  only  their  disappointment  but  themselves  in 
dissipation.  Their  course  is  like  that  of  some  who  deem 
that  the  best  way  to  cure  a  wound  or  end  a  disease  is  to  kill 
the  patient  as  soon  as  possible.  If  women  have  true  metal 


350  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

in  them  (and  they  usually  have)  they  become  unselfishly 
devoted  to  others,  and  by  gentle,  self-denying*  ways  seek 
to  impart  to  those  about  them  the  happiness  denied  to 
themselves. 

But  with  all  manly  young  men  the  instinct  of  Dennis  is 
perhaps  the  most  common.  They  will  rise,  shine,  and  daz- 
zle the  eyes  that  once  looked  scornfully  or  indifferently 
at  them. 

As  he  worked  patiently  at  his  noble  calling  this  smaller 
ambition  was  gradually  lost  in  the  nobler,  broader  one,  to 
be  a  true  artist  and  a  good  man. 

During  his  illness  some  gentlemen  of  large  wealth  and 
liberality,  who  wished  to  stimulate  and  develop  the  native 
artistic  talent  of  their  city,  offered  a  prize  of  two  thousand 
dollars  for  the  finest  picture  painted  during  the  year,  the 
artist  also  having  the  privilege  of  selling  his  work. 

On  his  return  after  his  illness  Dennis  heard  of  this,  and 
determined  to  be  one  of  the  competitors.  He  applied  to 
Mr.  Cornell,  who  had  the  matter  in  charge,  for  permission 
to  enter  the  lists,  which  that  gentleman  granted  rather 
doubtfully.  He  had  known  Dennis  only  as  a  critic,  not  as 
an  artist.  But  having  gained  his  point,  Dennis  went  ear- 
nestly to  work  on  the  emblematic  painting  he  had  resolved 
upon,  and  with  what  success  the  following  chapters  will 
show. 

His  mother's  sickness  and  death,  of  course,  put  a  com- 
plete shop  to  his  artistic  labors  for  a  time,  but  when  entering 
on  his  new  career,  he  gave  himself  wholly  to  this  effort. 

The  time  for  exhibition  and  decision  was  fixed — Satur- 
day morning  October  7,  1871. 


SUSIE    W1NTBROP   APPEARS    AGAIN  351 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

SUSIE   WINTHROP   APPEARS   AGAIN 

OUR  story  passes  rapidly  over  the  scenes  and  events 
of  the  summer  and  fall  of  '71.  Another  heavy 
blow  fell  upon  Dennis  in  the  loss  of  his  old  friend 
and  instructor,  Mr.  Bruder. 

By  prayer  and  effort,  his  own  and  others,  he  was  saved 
morally  and  spiritually,  but  he  had  been  greatly  shattered 
by  past  excess.  He  was  attacked  by  typhoid  fever,  and 
after  a  few  days'  illness  died.  Recovery  from  this  disease 
depends  largely  upon  strength  and  purity  of  constitution. 
But  every  one  of  the  innumerable  glasses  of  liquor  that 
poor  Bruder  had  swallowed  had  helped  to  rob  him  of  these, 
and  so  there  was  no  power  to  resist. 

CJnder  her  husband's  improved  finances,  Mrs.  Bruder 
had  removed  to  comfortable  lodgings  in  Harrison  Street, 
and  these  she  determined  to  keep  if  possible,  dreading  for 
the  sake  of  her  children  the  influences  of  a  crowded  tene- 
ment house.  Dennis  stood  by  her,  a  stanch  and  helpful 
friend;  Ernst  was  earning  a  good  little  sum  weekly,  and 
by  her  needle  and  washtub  the  patient  woman  continued 
the  hard  battle  of  life  with  fair  prospects  of  success. 

Dennis's  studio  was  on  the  south  side,  at  the  top  of  a  tall 
building  overlooking  the  lake.  Even  before  the  early  sum- 
mer sun  rose  above  the  shining  waves  he  was  at  his  easel, 
and  so  accomplished  what  is  a  fair  day's  work  before  many  of 
his  profession  had  left  their  beds.  Though  he  worked  hard 
and  long,  he  still  worked  judiciously.  Bent  upon  accom- 
plishing what  was  almost  impossible  within  the  limited  time 
remaining,  he  determined  that,  with  all  his  labor,  Dr.  Arten 


352  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

should  never  charge  him  with  suicidal  tendencies  again. 
Therefore  he  trained  himself  mentally  and  morally  for  his 
struggle  as  the  athlete  trains  himself  physically. 

He  believed  in  the  truth,  too  little  recognized  among 
brain-workers,  that  men  can  develop  themselves  into  splen- 
did mental  conditions,  wherein  they  can  accomplish  almost 
double  their  ordinary  amount  of  labor. 

The  year  allotted  to  the  competitors  for  the  prize  to  be 
given  in  October  was  all  too  short  for  such  a  work  as 
he  had  attempted,  and  through  his  own,  his  mother's,  and 
Mr.  Bruder's  illness,  he  had  lost  a  third  of  the  time,  but  in 
the  careful  and  skilful  manner  indicated  he  was  trying  to 
make  it  up.  fle  had  a  long  conversation  with  shrewd  old 
Dr.  Arten,  who  began  to  take  a  decided  interest  in  him. 
He  also  read  several  books  on  hygiene.  Thus  he  worked 
under  the  guidance  of  reason,  science,  Christian  principle, 
instead  of  mere  impulse,  as  is  too  often  the  case  with  genius. 

In  the  absorption  of  his  task  he  withdrew  utterly  from 
society,  and,  with  the  exception  of  his  mission  class,  Chris- 
tian worship  on  the  Sabbath,  and  attendance  on  a  little 
prayer- meeting  in  a  neglected  quarter  during  the  week,  he 
permitted  no  other  demands  upon  his  time  and  thoughts. 

flis  pictures  had  sold  for  sufficient  to  provide  for  his 
sisters  and  enable  him  to  live,  with  close  economy,  till  after 
the  prize  was  given,  and  then,  if  he  did  not  gain  it  (of  which 
he  was  not  at  all  sure),  his  painting  would  sell  for  enough 
to  meet  future  needs. 

And  so  we  leave  him  for  a  time  earnestly  at  work,  fle 
was  like  a  ship  that  had  been  driven  hither  and  thither, 
tempest- tossed  and  in  danger.  At  last,  under  a  clear  sky 
and  in  smooth  water,  it  finds  its  true  bearings,  and  steadily 
pursues  its  homeward  voyage. 

The  Christine  whom  he  had  first  learned  to  love  in 
happy  unconsciousness,  while  they  arranged  the  store  to- 
gether, became  a  glorified,  artistic  ideal.  The  Christine 
whom  he  had  learned  to  know  as  false  and  heartless  was 
now  to  him  a  strange,  fascinating,  unwomanly  creature, 


SUSIE    W1NTHROP    APPEARS    AQA1N  353 

beautiful  only  as  the  Sirens  were  beautiful,  that  he  might 
wreck  himself  body  and  soul  before  her  unpitying  eyes. 
He  sought  to  banish  all  thought  of  her. 

Christine  returned  about  midsummer.  She  was  com- 
pelled to  note,  as  she  neared  her  native  city,  that  of  all 
the  objects  it  contained  Dennis  Fleet  was  uppermost  in  her 
thoughts.  She  longed  to  go  to  the  store  and  see  him  once 
more,  even  though  it  should  be  only  at  a  distance,  with  not 
even  the  shadow  of  recognition  between  them.  She  con- 
demned it  all  as  folly,  and  worse  than  vain,  but  that  made 
no  difference  to  her  heart,  which  would  have  its  way. 

Almost  trembling  with  excitement  she  entered  the  Art 
Building  the  next  day,  and  glanced  around  with  a  timidity 
that  was  in  marked  contrast  to  her  usual  cold  and  and  criti- 
cal regard.  But,  as  the  reader  knows,  Dennis  Fleet  was  not 
to  be  seen.  From  time  to  time  she  went  again,  but  neither 
he  nor  Ernst  appeared.  She  feared  that  for  some  reason  he 
Mad  gone,  and  determined  to  learn  the  truth.  Throwing  off 
the  strange  timidity  and  restraint  that  ever  embarrassed  her 
where  he  was  concerned,  she  said  to  Mr.  Schwartz  one  day: 
"I  don't  like  the  way  that  picture  is  hung.  Where  is  Mr. 
Fleet?  I  believe  he  has  charge  of  that  department." 

"Why,  bless  you!  Miss  Ludolph,"  replied  Mr.  Schwartz, 
with  a  look  of  surprise,  "Mr.  Ludolph  discharged  him  over 
two  months  ago." 

"Discharged  him!  what  for?" 

"For  being  away  too  much,  I  heard,"  said  old  Schwartz, 
with  a  shrug  indicating  that  that  might  be  the  reason  and 
might  not. 

Christine  came  to  the  store  but  rarely  thereafter,  for  it 
had  lost  its  chief  element  of  interest.  That  evening  she 
said  to  her  father,  "You  have  discharged  Mr.  Fleet?" 

"Yes,"  was  the  brief  answer. 

"May  I  ask  the  reason?" 

"He  was  away  too  much." 

"That  is  not  the  real  reason,"  she  said,  turning  suddenly 
upon  him.  "Father^  what  is  the  use  of  treating  me  as  a 


354  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

child?  What  is  the  use  of  trying  to  lock  things  up  and 
keep  them  from  me  ?  1  intend  to  go  to  Germany  with  you 
this  fall,  and  that  is  sufficient." 

With  a  courtly  smile  Mr.  Ludolph  replied,  "And  I  have 
lived  long  enough,  my  daughter,  to  know  that  what  people 
intend  and  what  they  do  are  two  very  different  things. ' ' 

She  flushed  angrily  and  said:  "It  was  most  unjust  to 
discharge  him  as  you  did.  Do  you  not  remember  that  he 
offered  his  mother's  services  as  nurse  when  I  was  dreading 
the  smallpox?" 

"You  are  astonishingly  grateful  in  this  case,"  said  her 
father,  with  a  meaning  that  Christine  understood  too  well; 
"but,  if  you  will  read  the  records  of  the  Ludolph  race,  you 
will  find  that  its  representatives  have  often  been  compelled 
to  do  things  somewhat  arbitrarily.  Since  you  have  been 
gone,  I  have  received  letters  announcing  the  death  of  my 
brother  and  his  wife.  I  am  now  Baron  Ludolph!" 

But  Christine  was  too  angry  and  too  deeply  wounded  to 
note  this  information,  which  at  one  time  would  have  elated 
her  beyond  measure.  She  coldly  said,  "It  is  a  pity  that 
noblemen  are  compelled  to  aught  but  noble  deeds";  and, 
with  this  parting  arrow,  she  left  him. 

Even  her  father  winced,  and  then  with  a  heavy  frown 
said,  "It  is  well  that  this  Yankee  youth  has  vanished;  still, 
the  utmost  vigilance  is  required." 

Again  he  saw  the  treacherous  maid  and  promised  in- 
creased reward  if  she  would  be  watchful,  and  inform  him 
of  every  movement  of  Christine. 

In  the  unobtrusive  ways  that  her  sensitive  pride  per- 
mitted, Christine  tried  to  find  out  what  had  become  of 
Dennis,  but  vainly.  She  offered  her  maid  a  large  reward 
if  she  would  discover  him,  but  she  had  been  promised  a 
larger  sum  not  to  find  him,  and  so  did  not.  The  impression 
was  given  that  he  had  left  the  city,  and  Christine  feared, 
with  a  sickening  dread,  that  she  would  never  see  him  agam. 
But  one  evening  Mr.  Cornell  stated  a  fact  in  a  casual  way 
that  startled  both  Mr.  and  Miss  Ludolph. 


SDS1E    W1NTHROP    APPEARS    AQA1N  855 

He  was  calling  at  their  house,  and  they  were  discussing 
the  coming  exhibition  of  the  pictures  which  would  compete 
for  the  prize. 

"By  the  way,  your  former  clerk  and  porter  is  among  the 
competitors;  at  least  he  entered  the  lists  last  spring, but  I  have 
lost  sight  of  him  since.  I  imagine  he  has  given  it  up,  and  be- 
taken himself  to  tasks  more  within  the  range  of  his  ability." 

The  eyes  of  father  and  daughter  met,  but  she  turned  to 
Mr.  Cornell,  and  said,  coolly,  though  with  a  face  somewhat 
flushed,  "And  has  Chicago  so  much  artistic  talent  that  a 
real  genius  has  no  chance  here  ?" 

"I  was  not  aware  that  Mr.  Fleet  was  a  genius,"  answered 
Mr.  Cornell. 

"I  think  that  he  will  staisfy  you  on  that  point,  and  that 
you  will  hear  from  him  before  the  exhibition  takes  place." 

Mr.  Ludolph  hastily  changed  the  subject,  but  he  had 
forebodings  as  to* the  future. 

Christine  went  to  her  room,  and  thought  for  a  long  time; 
suddenly  she  arose,  exclaiming,  "He  told  me  his  story  once 
on  canvas;  I  will  now  tell  him  mine." 

She  at  once  stretched  the  canvas  on  a  frame  for  a  small 
picture,  and  placed  it  on  an  easel,  that  she  might  commence 
with  dawn  of  day. 

During  the  following  weeks  she  worked  scarcely  less 
earnestly  and  patiently  than  Dennis.  The  door  was  locked 
when  she  painted,  and  before  she  left  the  studio  the  picture 
was  hidden. 

She  meant  to  send  it  anonymously,  so  that  not  even  her 
father  should  know  its  authorship.  She  hoped  that  Dennis 
would  recognize  it. 

When  she  was  in  the  street  her  eyes  began  to  have  an 
eager,  wistful  look,  as  if  she  was  seeking  some  one.  She 
often  went  to  galleries,  and  other  resorts  of  artists,  but  in 
vain,  for  she  never  met  him,  though  at  times  the  distance 
between  them  was  less  than  between  Evangeline  and  her 
lover,  when  she  heard  the  dip  of  his  oar  in  her  dream. 
Though  she  knew  that  if  she  met  him  she  would  probably 


356  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

give  not  one  encouraging  glance,  yet  the  instinct  of  her 
heart  was  just  as  strong. 

Mr.  Ludolph  told  the  maid  that  she  must  find  out  what 
Christine  was  painting,  and  she  tried  to  that  degree  that 
she  wakened  suspicion. 

On  one  occasion  Christine  turned  suddenly  on  her,  and 
said:  "What  do  you  mean?  If  I  find  you  false — if  1  have 
even  good  reason  to  suspect  you — I  will  turn  you  into  the 
street,  though  it  be  at  midnight!" 

And  the  maid  learned,  as  did  Mr.  Ludolph,  that  she  was 
not  dealing  with  a  child. 

During  Monday,  October  2,  Dennis  was  employed  all  the 
long  day  in  giving  the  finishing  touches  to  his  picture,  it 
was  not  worked  up  as  finely  as  he  could  have  wished;  time 
did  not  permit  this.  But  he  had  brought  out  his  thought 
vividly,  and  his  drawings  were  full  of  power.  On  the  fol- 
lowing Saturday  the  prize  would  be  given. 

In  the  evening  he  walked  out  for  air  and  exercise.  As 
he  was  passing  one  of  the  large  hotels,  he  heard  his  name 
called.  Turning,  he  saw  on  the  steps,  radiant  with  wel- 
come, his  old  friend,  Susie  Winthrop.  Her  hand  was  on 
the  arm  of  a  tall  gentleman,  who  seemed  to  have  eyes  for 
her  only.  But  in  her  old  impulsive  way  she  ran  down 
the  steps,  and  gave  Dennis  a  grasp  of  the  hand  that  did 
his  lonely  heart  good.  Then,  leading  him  to  the  scholarly- 
looking  gentleman,  who  was  gazing  through  his  glasses  in 
mild  surprise,  she  said:  "Professor  Leonard,  my  husband, 
Mr.  Fleet.  This  is  the  Dennis  Fleet  I  have  told  you  about 
so  often. ' ' 

"Oh — h,"  said  the  professor,  in  prolonged  accents,  while 
a  genial  light  shone  through  his  gold  spectacles.  "Mr. 
Fleet,  we  are  old  acquaintances,  though  we  have  never 
met  before.  If  I  were  a  jealous  man,  you  are  the  only 
one  I  should  fear." 

"And  we  mean  to  make  you  wofully  jealous  to-night, 
for  I  intend  to  have  Mr.  Fleet  dine  with  us  and  spend  the 
evening.  No,  I  will  take  no  excuse,  no  denial.  This  in- 


SUSIE    WINTHROP   APPEARS    AGAIN  357 

fatuated  man  will  do  whatever  I  bid  him,  and  he  is  a  sort 
of  Greek  athlete.  If  you  do  not  come  right  along  I  shall 
command  him  to  lay  violent  hands  on  you  and  drag  you 
ignominiously  in." 

Dennis  was  only  too  glad  to  accept,  but  merely  wished 
to  make  a  better  toilet. 

"I  have  just  come  from  my  studio,"  he  said. 

44  And  you  wish  to  go  and  divest  yourself  of  all  artistic 
flavor  and  become  commonplace.     Do  you  imagine  I  will 
permit  it?     No!    so  march  in  as  my  captive.     Who  ever 
heard  of  disputing  the  will  of  a  bride?     This  man  "  (point 
ing  up  to  the  tall  professor)  l '  never  dreams  of  it. ' ' 

Dennis  learned  that  she  was  on  her  wedding  trip,  and 
saw  that  she  was  happily  married,  and  proud  of  her  profes- 
sor, as  he  of  her. 

With  feminine  tact  she  drew  his  story  from  him,  and  yet 
it  was  but  a  meagre,  partial  story,  like  the  play  of  Hamlet 
with  Hamlet  left  out,  for  he  tried  to  be  wholly  silent  on  his 
love  and  disappointment.  But  in  no  respect  did  he  deceive 
Mrs.  Leonard.  Her  husband  went  away  for  a  little  time. 
In  his  absence  she  asked,  abruptly,  "Have  you  seen  Miss 
Ludolph  lately?" 

"No!"  said  Dennis,  with  a  tell-tale  flush.  Seeing  her 
look  of  sympathy,  and  knowing  her  to  be  such  a  true 
friend,  the  impulsive  young  man  gave  his  confidence  al- 
most before  he  knew  it.  She  was  just  the  one  to  inspire 
trust,  and  he  was  very  lonely,  having  had  no  one  to  whom 
he  could  speak  his  deeper  feelings  since  his  mother  died. 

"Miss  Ludolph  wronged  me  in  a  way  that  a  man  finds 
it  hard  to  forget  or  forgive,"  he  said,  in  a  low,  bitter  tone; 
"but  I  should  have  tried  to  do  both  had  she  not  treated  my 
mother,  most  inhumanly;"  and  he  told  his  story  over  again 
with  Hamlet  in. 

Mrs.  Leonard  listened  with  breathless  interest,  and  then 
said:  "She  is  a  strange  girl,  and  that  plan  of  making  you 
her  unconscious  model  is  just  like  her,  though  it  was  both 
cruel  and  wicked.  And  yet  Mr.  Fleet,  with  shame  for  my 


358  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

sex  I  admit  it,  how  many  would  have  flirted  with  you  to 
the  same  degree  from  mere  vanity  and  love  of  excitement! 
I  have  seen  Miss  Ludolph,  and  I  cannot  understand  her. 
We  are  no  longer  the  friends  we  once  were,  but  I  cannot 
think  her  utterly  heartless.  She  is  bent  upon  becoming  a 
great  artist  at  any  cost,  and  I  sometimes  think  she  would 
sacrifice  herself  as  readily  as  any  one  else  for  this  purpose. 
She  looks  to  me  as  if  she  had  suffered,  and  she  has  lost 
much  of  her  old  haughty,  cold  manner,  save  when  some- 
thing calls  it  out.  Even  in  the  drawing-room  she  was  ab- 
stracted, as  if  her  thoughts  were  far  away.  You  are  a  man 
of  honor,  and  it  is  due  that  you  should  know  the  following 
facts.  Indeed  I  do  not  think  that  they  are  a  secret  any 
longer,  and  at  any  rate  they  will  soon  be  known.  If  Mr. 
Ludolph  were  in  Germany  he  would  be  a  noble.  It  is 
his  intention  to  go  there  this  fall,  and  take  his  wealth  and 
Christine  with  him,  and  assert  his  ancestral  titles  and  posi- 
tion. Christine  could  not  marry  in  this  land  without  incur- 
ring her  father's  curse,  and  I  think  she  has  no  disposition 
to  do  that — her  ambition  is  fully  in  accord  with  his." 

"Yes,"  said  Dennis,  bitterly,  "and  where  other  women 
have  hearts,  she  has  ambition  only." 

The  professor  returned  and  the  subject  was  dropped. 

Dennis  said,  on  taking  his  leave:  "I  did  not  expect  to 
show  any  one  my  picture  till  it  was  placed  on  exhibition  with 
the  others,  but,  if  you  care  to  see  it,  you  may  to-rnorrow. 
Perhaps  you  can  make  some  suggestions  that  will  help  me. " 

They  eagerly  accepted  the  invitation,  and  came  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  Dennis  watched  them  with  much  solici- 
tude. When  once  they  understood  his  thought,  their  de- 
light and  admiration  knew  no  bounds.  The  professor 
turned  and  stared  at  him  as  if  he  were  an  entirely  differ- 
ent person  from  the  unpretending  youth  who  had  been 
introduced  on  the  preceding  evening. 

"If  you  do  not  get  the  prize,"  he  said,  sententiously, 
"you  have  a  great  deal  of  artistic  talent  in  Chicago." 

"  1A  Daniel  come  to  judgment!'  "  cried  his  wife. 


SUGGESTIVE   PICTURES    AND    A    PRIZE  359 


CHAPTER   XL 

SUGGESTIVE   PICTURES  AND   A   PRIZE 

AT  last  the  day  of  the  exhibition  dawned.     Dennis  had 
sent  his  picture,  directed  to  Mr.  Cornell,  with  his 
own  name  in  an  envelope  nailed  to  its  back.     No 
one  was  to  know  who  the  artists  were  till  after  the  decision 
was  given.    Christine  had  sent  hers  also,  but  no  name  what- 
ever was  in  the  envelope  attached  to  it. 

At  an  early  hour,  the  doors  were  thrown  open  for  all  who 
chose  to  come.  The  committee  of  critics  had  ample  time 
given  them  for  their  decision,  and  at  one  o'clock  this  was  to 
be  announced. 

Although  Dennis  went  rather  early,  he  found  that  Chris- 
tine was  there  before  him.  She  stood  with  Professor  and 
Mrs.  Leonard,  Mr.  Cornell,  and  her  father,  before  his  pic- 
ture, fie  could  only  see  her  side  face,  and  she  was  glanc- 
ing from  the  printed  explanation  in  the  catalogue  to  the 
painting.  Mrs.  Leonard  was  also  at  her  side,  seeing  to  it 
that  no  point  was  unnoted.  Christine's  manner  betrayed 
intense  interest  and  excitement,  and  with  cause,  for  again 
Dennis  had  spoken  to  her  deepest  soul  in  the  language  she 
best  loved  and  understood. 

As  before,  she  saw  two  emblematic  pictures  within  one 
frame  merely  separated  by  a  plain  band  of  gold. 

The  first  presented  a  chateau  of  almost  palatial  pro- 
portions, heavy,  ornate,  but  stiff  and  quite  devoid  of 
beauty.  It  appeared  to  be  the  abode  of  wealth  and  ances- 
tral greatness. 


860  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Everything  about  the  place  indicated  lavish  expenditure. 
The  walks  and  trees  were  straight  and  formal,  the  flowers 
that  bloomed  here  and  there,  large  and  gaudy.  A  parrot 
hung  in  a  gilded  cage  against  a  column  of  the  piazza.  No 
wild  songsters  fluttered  in  the  trees,  or  were  on  the  wing. 
Hills  shut  the  place  in  and  gave  it  a  narrow,  restricted  ap- 
pearance, and  the  sky  overhead  was  hard  and  brazen.  On 
the  lawn  stood  a  graceful  mountain  ash,  and  beneath  it  were 
two  figures.  The  first  was  that  of  a  man,  and  evidently  the 
master  of  the  place.  His  appearance  and  manner  chiefly  in- 
dicated pride,  haughtiness,  and  also  sensuality.  He  had 
broken  a  spray  from  the  ash-tree,  and  with  a  condescending 
air  was  in  the  act  of  handing  it  to  a  lady,  in  the  portraiture 
of  whom  Dennis  had  truly  displayed  great  skill.  She  was 
very  beautiful,  and  yet  there  was  nothing  good  or  noble  in 
her  face.  Her  proud  features  showed  mingled  shame  and 
reluctance  to  receive  the  gift  in  the  manner  it  was  bestowed, 
and  yet  she  was  receiving  it.  The  significance  of  the  moun- 
tain ash  is  "Grandeur."  The  whole  scene  was  the  portrayal, 
in  the  beautiful  language  of  art,  of  a  worldly,  ambitious  mar- 
riage, where  the  man  seeks  mere  beauty,  and  the  woman 
wealth  and  position,  love  having  no  existence. 

It  possessed  an  eloquence  that  Christine  could  not  resist, 
and  she  fairly  loathed  the  alliance  she  knew  her  father  would 
expect  her  to  make  after  their  arrival  in  Germany,  though 
once  she  had  looked  forward  to  it  with  eagerness  as  the 
stepping-stone  to  her  highest  ambition. 

The  second  picture  was  a  beautiful  contrast.  Instead  of 
the  brazen  glare  of  the  first,  the  air  was  full  of  glimmering 
lights  and  shades,  and  the  sky  of  a  deep  transparent  blue. 
Far  up  a  mountain  side,  on  an  overhanging  cliff,  grew  the 
same  graceful  ash-tree,  but  its  branches  were  entwined  with 
vines  of  the  passion-flower  that  hung  around  in  slender 
streamers.  On  a  jutting  rock,  with  precarious  footing, 
stood  a  young  man  reaching  up  to  grasp  a  branch,  his 
glance  bold  and  hopeful,  and  his  whole  manner  full  of 
daring  and  power.  He  had  evidenly  had  a  hard  climb  to 


SUGGESTIVE   PICTURES    AND   A    PRIZE  361 

reach  his  present  position;  his  hat  was  gone;  his  dress  was 
light  and  simple  and  adapted  to  the  severest  effort. 

But  the  chief  figure  in  this  picture  also  was  that  of  a 
young  girl  who  stood  near,  her  right  hand  clasping  his  left, 
and  steadying  and  sustaining  him  in  his  perilous  footing. 
The  wind  was  in  her  golden  hair,  and  swept  to  one  side  her 
light,  airy  costume.  Her  pure,  noble  face  was  lifted  up 
toward  him,  rather  than  toward  the  spray  he  sought  to 
grasp,  and  an  eager,  happy  light  shone  from  her  eyes. 
She  had  evidently  climbed  with  him  to  their  present  van- 
tage-point, and  now  her  little  hand  secured  and  strength- 
ened him  as  he  sought  to  grasp,  for  her,  success  and  pros- 
perity joined  with  unselfish  love.  The  graceful  wind-flowers 
tossed  their  delicate  blossoms  around  their  feet,  and  above 
them  an  eagle  wheeled  in  its  majestic  flight. 

Below  and  opposite  them  on  a  breezy  hillside  stood  a 
modern  villa,  as  tasteful  in  its  architecture  as  the  former 
had  been  stiff  and  heavy.  A  fountain  played  upon  the 
lawn,  and  behind  it  a  cascade  broke  into  silver  spray  and 
mist.  High  above  this  beautiful  earthly  home,  in  the  clear, 
pure  air  rose  a  palace-like  structure  in  shadowy,  golden  out- 
line, indicating  that  after  the  dwelling-place  of  time  came 
the  grander,  the  perfect  mansion  above. 

Christine  looked  till  her  eyes  were  blinded  with  tears, 
and  then  dropped  her  veil,  In  the  features  of  the  lady  in 
each  case  she  had  not  failed  to  trace  a  faint  likeness,  suffi- 
cient to  make  it  clear  to  herself.  She  said  in  a  low,  plain- 
tive tone,  with  quivering  lips,  "Mr.  Fleet  painted  that  pic- 
ture. ' ' 

41  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Leonard,  looking  at  her  with  no  little 
wonder  and  perplexity. 

By  a  great  effort  Christine  recovered  herself  and  said, 
"You  know  how  deeply  tine  paintings  always  affect 
me." 

Dennis  of  course  knew  nothing  of  Christine's  feelings. 
He  could  only  see  that  his  picture  had  produced  a  profound 
effect  on  her,  and  that  she  had  eyes  for  nothing  else.  But 

BOB— V— 16 


362  BARRIERS    BORN  ED    AWAY 

he  overheard  Mr.  Cornell  say,  "It  is  indeed  a  remarkable 
painting." 

"Do  you  know  its  author  ?"  asked  Mr.  Ludolph,  with  a 
heavy  frown. 

"No,  I  do  not.     It  is  still  a  mystery." 

41  Will  it  take  the  prize,  do  you  think  ?" 

"I  am  not  at  liberty  to  give  an  opinion  as  yet,"  replied 
Mr.  Cornell,  with  a  smile.  "There  is  another  picture  here, 
almost  if  not  quite  as  fine,  though  much  smaller  and  sim- 
pler;" and  he  took  Mr.  Ludolph  off  to  show  him  that. 

Dennis  was  now  recognized  by  Mrs.  Leonard  and  her 
husband,  who  came  forward  and  greeted  him  cordially,  and 
they  started  on  a  tour  ot  the  gallery  together.  Though  his 
heart  beat  fast,  he  completely  ignored  Christine's  presence, 
and  responded  coldly  to  Mr.  Ludolph 's  slight  bow. 

Christine,  on  being  aware  of  his  presence,  furtively  de- 
voured him  with  her  eyes.  The  refining  influences  of  his 
life  were  evident  in  his  face  and  bearing,  and  she  realized 
her  ideal  of  what  a  man  ought  to  be.  Eagerly  she  watched 
till  he  should  discover  her  painting  where  it  hung  opposite 
his  own,  and  at  last  she  was  amply  rewarded  for  all  her  toil. 
He  stopped  suddenly  and  stood  as  il  spellbound. 

The  picture  was  very  simple,  and  few  accessories  entered 
into  it.  Upon  a  barren  rock  of  an  island  stood  a  woman 
gazing  far  out  at  sea,  where  in  the  distance  a  ship  was  sail- 
ing away.  Though  every  part  had  been  worked  up  with  ex- 
quisite finish,  the  whole  force  and  power  of  the  painting  lay 
in  the  expression  of  the  woman's  face,  which  was  an  inde- 
scribable mingling  of  longing  and  despair.  Here  also  Chris- 
tine had  traced  a  faint  resemblance  to  herself,  though  the 
woman  was  middle-aged  and  haggard,  with  famine  in  her 
cheeks. 

As  Dennis  looked  and  wondered,  the  thought  flashed 
into  his  mind,  "Could  she  have  painted  that?"  He  turned 
suddenly  toward  her  and  was  convinced  that  she  had  done 
so;  for  she  was  looking  at  him  with  something  of  the  same 
expression,  or  at  least  he  fancied  so.  She  blushed  deeply 


SUGGESTIVE   PICTURES    AND    A    PRIZE  363 

and  turned  hastily  away.  He  was  greatly  agitated,  but  in 
view  of  the  eyes  that  were  upon  him  controlled  himself  and 
remained  outwardly  calm. 

Mr.  Ludolph  also  was  convinced  that  his  daughter  had 
painted  the  picture,  and  he  frowned  more  heavily  than  be- 
fore. He  turned  a  dark  look  on  her,  and  found  her  regard- 
ing Dennis  in  a  manner  that  caused  him  to  grind  his  teeth 
with  rage.  But  he  could  only  sit  down  and  watch  the  course 
of  events. 

The  people  were  now  thronging  in.  The  gentlemen  who 
made  up  the  prize,  with  their  committee  of  award,  of  which 
Mr.  Cornell  was  chairman,  were  also  present.  Most  criti- 
cally they  examined  each  picture  till  at  last  their  choice  nar- 
rowed down  to  the  two  paintings  above  described.  But  it 
soon  became  evident  that  their  choice  would  fall  upon  the 
larger  one,  and  Dennis  saw  that  he  was  to  be  the  victor.  To 
his  surprise  Christine  seemed  utterly  indifferent  as  to  the  re- 
sult of  their  decision.  He  could  not  know  that  the  prize  had 
no  place  in  her  thoughts  when  she  painted  her  picture.  She 
had  found  her  reward  in  its  effect  on  him. 

At  one  o'clock  Mr.  Cornell  came  forward  and  said: 
"Ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  especially  do  I  address  that 
group  of  liberal  citizens  who  are  so  generously  seeking  to 
encourage  art  in  our  great  and  prosperous  city,  it  gives  me 
pleasure  to  inform  you  that  your  munificence  has  brought 
forth  rich  fruit,  for  here  are  many  paintings  that  would  do 
credit  to  any  gallery.  We  hesitated  a  little  time  between 
two  very  superior  pictures,  but  at  last  we  have  decided  that 
the  larger  one  is  worthy  of  the  prize.  The  smaller  picture 
is  one  of  great  merit;  its  treatment  is  unusually  fine,  though 
the  subject  is  not  new. 

4 'The  two  emblematic  pictures  in  some  parts  show  crude 
and  hasty  work;  indeed  some  minor  parts  are  quite  unfinished. 
The  artist  evidently  has  not  had  sufficient  time.  But  the 
leading  features  are  well  wrought  out,  and  the  power  and 
originality  of  the  entire  effort  so  impress  us  that,  as  I  have 
said,  we  render  our  decision  in  its  favor.  That  all  may 


364  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

know  our  verdict  to  be  fair,  we  state  on  our  honor  that  we 
do  not  know  by  whom  a  single  painting  present  was  exe- 
cuted. Dr.  Arten,  as  the  largest  contributor  toward  the 
prize,  you  are  appointed  to  bestow  it.  On  the  back  of  the 
picture  you  will  find  an  envelope  containing  the  name  of 
the  artist,  whom  we  all  shall  delight  to  honor." 

Amid  breathless  expectation,  Dr.  Arten  stepped  for- 
ward, took  down  the  envelope,  and  read  in  a  loud,  trumpet- 
like  voice — 

4 'DENNIS  FLEET." 


F1RE(    FIRE  I  365 


W 


CHAPTER  XLI 
FIRE!    FIRE! 

fe'\  T  TILL  Dennis  Fleet  come  forward?"  cried  Dr. 
Arten.  Very  pale,  and  trembling  with  ex- 
citement, Dennis  stepped  out  before  them  all. 

41  Take  heart,  my  young  friend;  I  am  not  about  to  read 
your  death-warrant,"  said  the  doctor,  cheerily.  ** Permit 
me  to  present  you  with  this  check  for  two  thousand  dollars, 
and  express  to  you  what  is  of  more  value  to  the  true  artist, 
our  esteem  and  appreciation  of  your  merit.  May  your  brush 
ever  continue  to  be  employed  in  the  presentation  of  such 
noble,  elevating  thoughts." 

And  the  good  doctor,  quite  overcome  by  this  unusual 
flight  of  eloquence,  blew  his  nose  vigorously  and  wiped 
from  his  spectacles  the  moisture  with  which  his  own  eyes 
had  bedewed  them. 

Dennis  responded  with  a  low  bow,  and  was  about  to  re- 
tire; but  his  few  friends,  and  indeed  all  who  knew  him, 
pressed  forward  with  their  congratulations. 

Foremost  among  these  were  the  professor  and  his  wife. 
Tears  of  delight  fairly  shone  in  Mrs.  Leonard's  eyes  as  she 
shook  his  hand  again  and  again.  Many  others  also  trooped 
up  for  an  introduction,  till  he  was  quite  bewildered  by 
strange  names,  and  compliments  that  seemed  stranger  stilL 

Suddenly  a  low,  well-known  voice  at  his  side  sent  a  thrill 
to  his  heart  and  a  rush  of  crimson  to  his  face. 

44  Will  Mr.  Fleet  deign  to  receive  my  congratulations 
also?" 

He  turned  and  met  the  deep  blue  eyes  of  Christine 
Ludolph  lifted  timidly  to  his.  But  at  once  the  association 


366  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

that  had  long  been  uppermost  in  regard  to  her — the  memory 
of  her  supposed  treatment  of  his  mother — flashed  across  him, 
and  he  replied,  with  cold  and  almost  stately  courtesy,  "The 
least  praise  or  notice  from  Miss  Ludolph  would  be  a  most 
unexpected  favor.0 

She  thought  from  his  manner  that  he  might  as  well  have 
said  "unwelcome  favor,"  and  with  a  sad,  disappointed  look 
she  turned  away. 

Even  in  the  excitement  and  triumph  of  the  moment, 
Dennis  was  oppressed  by  the  thought  that  he  had  not 
spoken  as  wisely  as  he  might.  Almost  abruptly  he  broke 
away  and  escaped  to  the  solitude  of  his  own  room. 

fie  did  not  think  about  his  success.  The  prize  lay  for- 
gotten in  his  pocketbook.  He  sat  in  his  arm-chair  and 
stared  apparently  at  vacancy,  but  in  reality  at  the  picture 
that  he  was  sure  Christine  had  painted.  He  went  over  and 
over  again  with  the  nicest  scrutiny  all  her  actions  in  the 
gallery,  and  now  reproached  himself  bitterly  for  the  repel- 
ling answer  he  had  given  when  she  spoke  to  him.  He  tried 
to  regain  his  old  anger  and  hardness  in  view  of  her  wrongs 
to  him  and  his,  but  could  not.  The  tell-tale  picture,  and 
traces  of  sorrow  and  suffering  in  her  face  in  accord  with 
it,  had  disarmed  him.  He  said  to  himself,  and  half  believed, 
that  he  was  letting  his  imagination  run  away  with  his 
reason,  but  could  not  help  it.  At  last  he  seized  his  hat 
and  hastened  to  the  hotel  where  Mrs.  Leonard  was  staying. 
She  at  once  launched  out  into  a  eulogistic  strain  descriptive 
of  her  enjoyment  of  the  affair. 

"I  never  was  so  proud  of  Chicago,'7  she  exclaimed.  "It 
is  the  greatest  city  in  the  world.  Only  the  other  day  her 
streets  were  prairies.  1  believe  my  husband  expected  to 
find  buffalo  and  Indians  just  outside  the  town.  But  see! 
already,  by  its  liberality  and  attention  to  art,  it  begins  to 
vie  with  some  of  our  oldest  cities.  But  what  is  the  matter? 
You  look  so  worried. ' ' 

"Oh,  nothing,'1  said  Dennis,  coming  out  of  his  troubled, 
abstracted  manner. 


FIRE!    FIRE!  367 

With  her  quick  intuition,  Mrs.  Leonard  at  once  divined 
his  thoughts,  and  said  soon  after,  when  her  husband's  back 
was  turned:  "All  I  can  say  is,  that  she  was  deeply,  most 
deeply  affected  by  your  picture,  but  she  said  nothing  to  me, 
more  than  to  express  her  admiration.  My  friend,  you  had 
better  forget  her.  They  sail  for  Europe  very  soon;  and, 
besides,  she  is  not  worthy  of  you." 

"I  only  wish  I  could  forget  her,  and  am  angry  with  myself 
that  I  cannot, "  he  replied,  and  soon  after  said  '  'good-night. " 

Wandering  aimlessly  through  the  streets,  he  almost  un- 
consciously made  his  way  to  the  north  side,  where  the 
Ludolph  mansion  was  situated.  Then  a  strong  impulse  to 
go  to  it  came  over  him,  and  for  the  first  time  since  the  far- 
off  day  when,  stunned  and  wounded  by  his  bitter  disappoint- 
ment, he  had  gone  away  apparently  to  die,  he  found  himself 
at  the  familiar  place.  The  gas  was  burning  in  Mr.  Ludolph's 
library.  He  went  around  on  the  side  street  (for  the  house 
was  on  a  corner),  and  a  light  shone  from  what  he  knew  to 
be  Christine's  studio.  She  undoubtedly  was  there.  Even 
such  proximity  excited  him  strangely,  and  in  his  morbid 
state  he  felt  that  he  could  almost  kiss  the  feeble  rays  that 
shimmered  out  into  the  darkened  street.  In  his  secret  soul 
he  utterly  condemned  his  folly,  but  promised  himself  that  he 
would  be  weak  no  longer  after  that  one  night.  The  excite- 
ments of  the  day  had  thrown  him  off  his  balance. 

Suddenly  he  heard,  sweet  and  clear,  though  softened  by 
distance  and  intervening  obstacles,  the  same  weird,  pathetic 
ballad  that  had  so  moved  him  when  Christine  sang  it  at  Le 
Grand  Hotel,  on  the  evening  after  he  had  pointed  out  the 
fatal  defect  in  her  picture.  At  short  intervals,  kindred  and 
plaintive  songs  followed. 

"There  is  nothing  exultant  or  hopeful  about  those 
strains,"  he  said  to  himself.  "For  some  reason  she  is 
not  happy.  Oh,  that  I  might  have  one  frank  conversation 
with  her  and  find  out  the  whole  truth!  But  it  seems  that 
I  might  just-  as  well  ask  for  a  near  look  at  yonder  star  that 
glimmers  so  distantly.  For  some  reason  I  cannot  believe 


368  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

her  so  utterly  heartless  as  she  has  seemed;  and  then  mother 
has  prayed.  Can  it  all  end  as  a  miserable  dream?" 

Late  at  night  the  music  ceased,  and  the  room  was 
darkened. 

Little  dreamed  Christine  that  her  plaintive  minstrelsy 
had  fallen  on  so  sympathetic  an  ear,  and  that  the  man  who 
seemingly  had  repelled  her  slightest  acquaintance  had  shiv- 
ered long  hours  in  the  cold,  dark  street. 

So  the  divine  Friend  waits  and  watches,  while  we,  in 
ignorance  and  unbelief,  pay  no  heed.  Stranger  far,  He 
waits  and  watches  when  we  know,  but  yet,  unrelenting, 
ignore  flis  presence. 

With  heavy  steps,  Dennis  wearily  plodded  homeward. 
He  was  oppressed  by  that  deep  despondency  which  follows 
great  fatigue  and  excitement. 

In  the  southwest  he  saw  a  brilliant  light.  He  heard  the 
alarm-bells,  and  knew  there  was  a  fire,  but  to  have  aroused 
him  that  night  it  must  have  come  scorchingly  close.  He 
reached  his  dark  little  room,  threw  himself  dressed  on  the 
couch,  and  slept  till  nearly  noon  of  the  next  day. 

When  he  awoke,  and  realized  how  the  first  hours  of  the 
Sabbath  had  passed,  he  started  up  much  vexed  with  him- 
self, and  after  a  brief  retrospect  said:  "Such  excitements 
as  those  of  yesterday  are  little  better  than  a  debauch,  and 
I  must  shun  them  hereafter.  God  has  blessed  and  suc- 
ceeded me,  and  it  is  but  a  poor  return  I  am  making.  How- 
ever my  unfortunate  attachment  may  end,  nothing  is  gained 
by  moping  around  in  the  hours  of  night.  Henceforth  let 
there  be  an  end  of  such  folly." 

He  made  a  careful  toilet  and  sat  down  to  his  Sabbatn- 
school  lesson. 

To  his  delight  he  again  met  Mrs.  Leonard,  who  came  to 
visit  her  old  mission  class.  She  smiled  most  approvingly, 
and  quoted,  4t  'He  that  is  faithful  in  that  which  is  least  is 
faithful  also  in  much.'  " 

He  went  home  with  her,  and  in  the  evening  they  all  went 
to  church  together. 


FIRE  /     FIRE!  369 

He  cried  unto  the  Lord  for  strength  and  help,  and  almost 
lost  consciousness  of  the  service  in  his  earnest  prayer  for 
true  manhood  and  courage  to  go  forward  to  what  he  feared 
would  be  a  sad  and  lonely  life.  And  the  answer  came;  for 
a  sense  of  power  and  readiness  to  do  God's  will,  and  withal 
a  strange  hopefulness,  inspired  him.  Trusting  in  the  Divine 
strength,  he  felt  that  he  could  meet  his  future  now,  what- 
ever it  might  be. 

Again  the  alarm-bells  were  ringing,  and  there  was  a  light 
An  the  southwest. 

"There  seems  to  be  a  tire  over  there  in  the  direction  of 
my  poor  German  friend's  house.  You  remember  Mrs.  Bru- 
der.  I  will  go  and  call  on  them,  I  think.  At  any  rate  I 
should  call,  for  it  is  owing  to  her  husband  that  I  won  the 
prize;"  and  they  parted  at  the  church-door. 

Christine  had  left  the  picture-gallery  soon  after  Dennis's 
abrupt  departure.  Her  gay  friends  had  tried  in  vain  to 
rally  her,  and  rather  wondered  at  her  manner,  but  said, 
"She  is  so  full  of  moods  of  late,  you  can  never  know  what 
to  expect." 

Her  father,  with  a  few  indifferent  words,  left  her  for  his 
place  of  business.  His  hope  still  was  to  prevent  her  meet- 
ing Dennis,  and  to  keep  up  the  estrangement  that  existed. 

Christine  went  home  and  spent  the  long  hours  in  bitter 
revery,  which  at  last  she  summed  up  by  saying,  "I  have 
stamped  out  his  love  by  my  folly,  and  now  his  words,  ll 
despise  you,'  express  the  whole  wretched  truth."  Then 
clenching  her  little  hands  she  added,  with  livid  lips  and 
a  look  of  scorn:  "Since  I  can  never  help  him  (and  therefore 
no  one)  win  earthly  greatness,  I  will  never  be  the  humble 
recipient  of  it  from  another.  Since  his  second  picture  can- 
not be  true  of  my  experience,  neither  shall  the  first." 

And  she  was  one  to  keep  such  a  resolve.  The  evening 
was  spent,  as  we  know,  in  singing  alone  in  her  studio,  this 
being  her  favorite,  indeed  her  only  way,  of  giving  expres- 
sion to  her  feelings.  Very  late  she  sought  her  bed  to  find 
but  little  sleep. 


870  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

The  day  of  rest  brought  no  rest  to  her,  suggested  no  hope, 
no  sacred  privilege  of  seeking  Divine  help  to  bear  up  under 
life's  burdens.  To  her  it  was  a  relic  of  superstition,  at  which 
she  chafed  as  interfering  with  the  usual  routine  of  affairs. 
She  awoke  with  a  headache,  and  a  long  miserable  day  she 
found  it.  Sabbath  night  she  determined  to  have  sleep,  and 
therefore  took  an  opiate  and  retired  early. 

Mr.  Ludolph  sat  in  his  library  trying  to  construct  some 
plan  by  which  Christine  could  be  sent  to  Germany  at  once. 

When  Dennis  reached  the  neighborhood  of  the  lire  he 
found  it  much  larger  than  he  supposed,  and  when  he  entered 
Harrison  Street,  near  Mrs.  Bruder 's  home,  he  discovered 
that  only  prompt  action  could  save  the  family.  The  streets 
were  fast  becoming  choked  with  fugitives  and  teams,  and 
the  confusion  threatened  to  develop  into  panic  and  wide- 
spread danger.  The  lire  was  but  a  block  away  when  he 
rushed  upstairs  to  the  floor  which  the  Bruders  occupied. 
From  the  way  in  which  blazing  brands  were  flying  he  knew 
that  there  were  was  not  a  moment  to  spare. 

He  found  Mrs.  Bruder  startled,  anxious,  but  in  no  way 
comprehending  the  situation. 

"Quick!"  cried  Dennis.  "Wake  and  dress  the  children 
— pack  up  what  you  can  lay  your  hands  on  and  carry — you 
have  no  time  to  do  anything  more." 

"Ah!  mine  Gott!  vat  you  mean?" 

"Do  as  I  say — there's  no  time  to  explain.  Here,  Ernst, 
help  me;"  and  Dennis  snatched  up  one  child  and  com- 
menced dressing  it  before  it  could  fairly  wake.  Ernst  took 
up  another  and  followed  his  example.  Mrs.  Bruder,  recov- 
ering from  her  bewilderment,  hastily  gathered  a  few  things 
together,  saying  in  the  meantime,  "Surely  you  don't  dink 
our  home  burn  up?" 

"Yes,  my  poor  friend,  in  five  minutes  more  we  must  all 
be  out  of  this  building." 

"Oh,  den  come  dis  minute!  Let  me  save  de  schilder;" 
and,  throwing  a  blanket  around  the  youngest,  the  fright- 
ened woman  rushed  downstairs,  followed  by  Ernst  and  his 


FIRE!    FIRE!  371 

little  brother,  while  Dennis  hastened  with  the  last  child  and 
the  bundle. 

Their  escape  was  none  too  prompt,  for  the  blazing  em- 
bers were  falling  to  such  a  degree  in  the  direct  line  of  the 
fire  as  to  render  that  position  very  perilous.  But  though 
their  progress  was  necessarily  slow,  from  the  condition  of 
the  streets,  the  breadth  of  the  fire  was  not  great  at  this  spot, 
and  they  soon  reached  a  point  to  the  west  and  windward 
that  was  safe.  Putting  the  family  in  charge  of  Ernst,  and 
telling  them  to  continue  westward,  Dennis  rushed  back, 
feeling  that  many  lives  depend  upon  stout  hands  and  brave 
hearts  that  night.  Moreover  he  was  in  that  state  of  mind 
which  made  him  court  rather  than  shun  danger. 

He  had  hardly  left  his  humble  friends  before  Mrs.  Bru- 
der  stopped,  put  her  hand  on  her  heart  and  cried:  "Oh, 
Ernst!  Oh,  Gott  forgive  me!  dot  I  should  forget  him — 
your  fader's  picture.  I  must  go  back." 

"Oh,  moder,  no!  you  are  more  to  us  than  the  picture." 
The  woman's  eyes  were  wild  and  excited,  and  she  cried, 
vehemently:  "Dot  picture  saved  mine  Berthold  life — yes, 
more,  more,  him  brought  back  his  artist  soul.  Vithout  him 
ve  vould  all  be  vorse  dan  dead.  I  can  no  live  vidout 
him.  Stay  here";  and  with  the  speed  of  the  wind  the 
devoted  wife  rushed  back  to  the  burning  street,  up  the 
stairs,  already  crackling  and  blazing,  to  where  the  lovely 
landscape  smiled  peacefully  in  the  dreadful  glare,  with  its 
last  rich  glow  of  beauty.  She  tore  it  from  its  fastenings, 
pressed  her  lips  fervently  against  it,  regained  the  street, 
but  with  dress  on  fire.  She  staggered  forward  a  few  steps 
in  the  hot  stifling  air  and  smoke,  and  then  fell  upon  her 
burden.  Spreading  her  arms  over  it,  to  protect  it  even  in 
death,  the  mother's  heart  went  out  in  agony  toward  her 
children. 

"Ah,  merciful  Gott!  take  care  of  dem,"  she  sighed,  and 
the  prayer  and  the  spirit  that  breathed  it  went  up  to  heaven 
together. 


372  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTER  XLII 

BARON  LUDOLPH  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH 

WITH  eyes  ablaze  with  excitement,  Dennis  plunged 
into  the  region  just  before  the  main  line  of  fire, 
knowing  that  there  the  danger  would  be  greatest. 
None  realized  the  rapidity  of  its  advance.  At  the  door  of 
a  tenement- house  he  found  a  pale,  thin,  half-clad  woman 
tugging  at  a  sewing-machine. 

"Madam,"  cried  Dennis,  "you  have  no  time  to  waste 
over  that  burden  if  you  wish  to  escape." 

41  What  is  the  use  of  escaping  without  it  ?"  she  answered, 
sullenly.  "It  is  the  only  way  I  have  of  making  a  living." 

"Give  it  to  me  then,  and  follow  as  fast  as  you  can." 
Shouldering  what  meant  to  the  poor  creature  shelter,  cloth- 
ing, and  bread,  he  led  the  way  to  the  southeast,  out  of  the 
line  of  fire.  It  was  a  long,  hard  struggle,  but  they  got 
through  safely. 

"How  can  I  ever  pay  you  ?"  cried  the  grateful  woman. 

But  he  did  not  stay  to  answer,  and  now  determined  to 
make  his  way  to  the  west  and  windward  of  the  fire,  as  he 
could  then  judge  better  of  the  chances  of  its  spreading. 
He  thought  it  safer  to  go  around  and  back  of  the  flames, 
as  they  now  seemed  much  wider,  and  nearer  the  south 
branch  of  the  Chicago  Eiver. 

He  found  that  he  could  cross  the  burned  district  a  little 
to  the  southwest,  for  the  small  wooden  houses  were  swept 
so  utterly  away  that  there  were  no  heated,  blazing  ruins  to 
contend  with.  He  also  saw  that  he  could  do  better  by 
making  quite  a  wide  circuit,  as  he  thus  avoided  streets 


BARON  LUDOLPH  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH  373 

choked  by  fugitives.  Beaching  a  point  near  the  river  on 
the  west  side  of  the  fire,  he  climbed  a  high  pile  of  lumber, 
and  then  discovered  to  his  horror  that  the  fire  had  caught 
in  several  places  on  the  south  side,  and  that  the  nearest 
bridges  were  burning. 

To  those  not  familiar  with  the  topography  of  the  city,  it 
should  be  stated  that  it  is  separated  by  the  Chicago  River, 
a  slow,  narrow  stream,  into  three  main  divisions,  known  as 
the  south,  the  north,  and  the  west  side. 

By  a  triumph  of  engineering,  the  former  mouth  of  this 
river  at  the  lake  is  now  its  source,  the  main  stream  being 
turned  back  upon  itself,  and  dividing  into  two  branches  at 
a  point  a  little  over  half  a  mile  from  the  lake,  one  flowing 
to  the  southwest  into  the  Illinois,  and  the  other  from  the 
northwest  into  the  main  stream. 

The  south  division  includes  all  the  territory  bounded  on 
the  east  by  the  lake,  on  the  north  by  the  main  river  and 
on  the  west  by  the  south  branch.  The  north  division  in- 
cludes the  area  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  lake,  on  the 
south  by  the  main  river,  and  on  the  west  by  the  north 
branch,  while  the  west  division  embraces  all  that  part 
of  the  city  west  of  the  two  branches.  The  fire  originated 
in  De  Koven  Street,  the  southeastern  part  of  the  west  side, 
and  it  was  carried  steadily  to  the  north  and  east  by  an 
increasing  gale.  The  south  side,  with  all  its  magnificent 
buildings,  was  soon  directly  in  the  line  of  the  fire. 

When  Dennis  saw  that  the  flames  had  crossed  the  south 
branch,  and  were  burning  furiously  beyond,  he  knew  that 
the  best  part  of  the  city  was  threatened  with  destruction. 
He  hastened  to  the  Washington  Street  tunnel,  where  he 
found  a  vast  throng,  carrying  all  sorts  of  burdens,  rushing 
either  way.  He  plunged  in  with  the  rest,  and  soon  found 
himself  hustled  hither  and  thither  by  a  surging  mass  of 
humanity.  A  little  piping  voice  that  seemed  under  his  feet 
cried:  "O  mamma!  mamma!  Where  are  you?  I'm  gettin' 
lost." 

"Here  I  am,  my  child/'  answered  a  voice  some  steps  in 


874  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

advance,  and  Dennis  saw  a  lady  carrying  another  child;  but 
the  rushing  tide  would  not  let  her  wait — all,  in  the  place 
where  they  were  wedged,  being  carried  right  along.  Stoop- 
ing down,  he  put  the  little  girl  on  his  shoulder  where  she 
could  see  her  mother,  and  so  they  pressed  on.  Suddenly, 
in  the  very  midst  of  the  tunnel,  the  gas  ceased,  by  reason 
of  the  destruction  of  the  works,  and  utter  darkness  filled 
the  place. 

There  was  a  loud  cry  of  consternation,  and  then  a  mo- 
mentary and  dreadful  silence,  which  would  have  been  the 
preface  of  a  fatal  panic,  had  not  Dennis  cried  out,  in  a  ring- 
ing voice,  "All  keep  to  the  right!" 

This  cry  was  taken  up  and  repeated  on  every  hand,  and 
side  by  side,  to  right  and  left,  the  two  living  streams  of 
humanity,  with  steady  tramp!  tramp!  rushed  past  each 
other. 

When  they  emerged  into  the  glare  of  the  south  side 
Dennis  gave  the  child  to  its  mother  and  said,  "Madam, 
your  only  chance  is  to  escape  in  that  direction,"  pointing 
northwest. 

He  then  tried  to  make  his  way  to  the  hotel  where  Profes- 
sor and  Mrs.  Leonard  were  staying,  but  it  was  in  the  midst 
of  an  unapproachable  sea  of  fire.  If  they  had  not  escaped 
some  little  time  before,  they  had  already  perished.  He 
then  tried  to  make  his  way  to  the  windward  toward  his 
own  room.  His  two  thousand  dollars  and  all  his  posses- 
sions were  there,  and  the  instinct  of  self-preservation  caused 
him  to  think  it  was  time  to  look  after  his  own.  But  prog- 
ress was  now  very  difficult.  The  streets  were  choked  by 
drays,  carriages,  furniture,  trunks,  and  every  degree  and 
condition  of  humanity.  Besides,  his  steps  were  often 
stayed  by  thrilling  scenes  and  the  need  of  a  helping  hand. 
In  order  to  make  his  way  faster  he  took  a  street  nearer  the 
fire,  from  which  the  people  had  mostly  been  driven.  As 
he  was  hurrying  along  with  his  hat  drawn  over  his  eyes 
to  avoid  the  sparks  that  were  driven  about  like  fiery  hail, 
he  suddenly  heard  a  piercing  shriek.  Looking  up  he  saw 


BARON  LUDOLPH  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH     375 

the  figure  of  a  woman  at  the  third  story  window  of  a  fine 
mansion  that  was  already  burning,  though  not  so  rapidly 
as  those  in  the  direct  line  of  the  fire.  He  with  a  number 
of  others  stopped  at  the  sound. 

44 Who  will  volunteer  with  me  to  save  that  woman?7' 
cried  he. 

11  Wai,  stranger,  you  can  reckon  on  this  old  stager  for 
one,"  answered  a  familiar  voice. 

Dennis  turned  and  recognized  his  old  friend,  the  Good 
Samaritan. 

44  Why,  Cronk,"  he  cried,  "don't  you  know  me?  Don't 
you  remember  the  young  man  you  saved  from  starving  by 
suggesting  the  snow-shovel  business?" 

44 Hollo!  my  young  colt.  How  are  you?  give  us  yer 
hand.  But  come,  don't  let's  stop  to  talk  about  snow  in 
this  hell  of  a  place  with  that  young  filly  whinnying  up 
there." 

44 Eight!"  cried  Dennis.  "Let  us  find  a  ladder  and  rope; 
quick — " 

At  a  paint-shop  around  the  corner  a  ladder  was  found 
that  reached  to  the  second  story,  and  some  one  procured 
a  rope. 

44 A  thousand  dollars,"  cried  another  familiar  voice, 
44 to  the  man  who  saves  that  woman!0 

Looking  round,  Dennis  saw  the  burly  form  of  Mr. 
Brown,  the  brewer,  his  features  distorted  by  agony  and 
fear;  then  glancing  up  he  discovered  in  the  red  glare  upon 
her  face  that  the  woman  was  no  other  than  his  daughter. 
She  had  come  to  spend  the  night  with  a  friend,  and,  being 
a  sound  sleeper,  had  not  escaped  with  the  family. 

44 Who  wants  yer  thousand  dollars?"  replied  Bill  Cronk's 
gruff  voice.  "D'ye  s'pose  we'd  hang  out  here  over  the 
bottomless  pit  for  any  such  trifle  as  that?  We  want  to 
save  the  gal." 

Before  Cronk  had  ended  his  chaacteristic  speech,  Dennis 
was  half-way  up  the  ladder.  He  entered  the  second  story, 
only  to  be  driven  back  by  fire  and  smoke. 


376  BARRIERS    BURNED   AWAY 

44  A  pole  of  some  kind!n  he  cried. 

The  thills  of  a  broken-down  buggy  supplied  this,  but 
the  flames  had  already  reached  Miss  Brown.  Being  a  girl 
of  a  good  deal  of  nerve  and  physical  courage,  however,  she 
tore  off  her  outer  clothing  with  her  own  hands.  Dennis 
now  passed  her  the  rope  on  the  end  of  the  buggy-thill  and 
told  her  to  fasten  it  to  something  in  the  room  that  would 
support  her  weight,  and  lower  herself  to  the  second  story. 
She  fastened  it,  but  did  not  seem  to  know  how  to  lower 
herself.  Dennis  tried  the  rope,  found  it  would  sustain  his 
weight;  then,  bringing  into  use  an  art  learned  in  his  college 
gymnasium,  he  over-handed  rapidly  till  he  stood  at  Miss 
Brown's  side.  Drawing  up  the  rope  he  fastened  her  to 
it  and  lowered  her  to  the  ladder,  where  Bill  Cronk  caught 
her,  and  in  a  moment  more  she  was  in  her  father's  arms, 
who  at  once  shielded  her  from  exposure  with  his  overcoat. 
Dennis  followed  the  rope  down,  and  had  hardly  got  away 
before  the  building  fell  in. 

44 Is  not  this  Mr.  Fleet?'7  asked  Miss  Brown. 

"Yes." 

44  How  can  we  ever  repay  you  ?" 

44  By  learning  to  respect  honest  men,  even  though  they 
are  not  rich,  Miss  Brown." 

44Did  you  know  who  it  was  when  you  saved  me  ?" 

"Yes." 

44 Mr.  Fleet,  I  sincerely  ask  your  pardon." 

But  before  Dennis  could  reply  they  were  compelled  to 
fly  for  their  lives. 

Mr.  Brown  shouted  as  he  ran,  44Call  at  the  house  or 
place  of  business  of  Thomas  Brown,  and  the  money  will 
be  ready. " 

But  Thomas  Brown  would  have  found  it  hard  work  to 
rake  a  thousand  dollars  out  of  the  ashes  of  either  place  the 
following  day.  The  riches  in  which  he  trusted  had  taken 
wings. 

Cronk  and  Dennis  kept  together  for  a  short  distance, 
and  the  latter  saw  that  his  friend  had  been  drinking.  Their 


BARON  LUDOLPH  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH  377 

steps  led  them  near  a  large  liquor-store  which  a  party  of 
men  and  boys  were  sacking.  One  of  these,  half  intoxicated, 
handed  Bill  a  bottle  of  whiskey,  but  as  the  drover  was  lift- 
ing it  to  his  lips  Dennis  struck  it  to  the  ground.  Cronk 
was  in  a  rage  instantly. 

44 What  the did  you  do  that  for?"  he  growled. 

"I  would  do  that  and  more  too  to  save  your  life.  If  you 
get  drunk  to-night  you  are  a  lost  man,"  answered  Dennis, 
earnestly. 

"Who's  a-goin'  ter  get  drunk,  I'd  like  ter  know?  You 
feel  yer  oats  too  much  to-night.  No  man  or  horse  can  kick 
over  the  traces  with  me;"  and  he  went  off  in  the  unreason- 
ing anger  of  a  half -drunken  man.  But  he  carried  all  his 
generous  impulses  with  him,  for  a  few  minutes  after,  seeing 
a  man  lying  in  a  most  dangerous  position,  he  ran  up  and 
shook  him,  crying,  "I  say,  stranger,  get  up,  or  yer  ribs  will 
soon  be  roasted." 

"Lemme  'lone,'7  was  the  maudlin  answer.  "I've  had 
drink  'nuff.  'Tain't  mornin'  yet." 

44 Hi,  there!"  cried  a  warning  voice,  and  Cronk  started 
back  just  in  time  to  escape  a  blazing  wall  that  fell  across 
the  street.  The  stupefied  man  he  had  sought  to  arouse  was 
hopelessly  buried.  Cronk,  having  got  out  of  danger,  stood 
and  scratched  his  head,  his  favorite  way  of  assisting  re- 
flection. 

4 'That's  just  what  that  young  critter  Fleet  meant.  What 
a  cussed  ole  mule  I  was  to  kick  up  so  I  Ten  chances  to  one 
but  it  will  happen  to  me  afore  mornin'.  Look  here,  Bill 
Cronk,  you  jist  p'int  out  of  this  fiery  furnace.  You  know 
yer  failin',  and  there's  too  long  and  black  a  score  agin  you 
in  t'other  world  for  you  to  go  to-night;"  and  Bill  made 
a  bee  line  for  the  west  side. 

Struggling  off  to  windward  through  the  choked  streets 
for  a  little  distance,  Dennis  ascended  the  side  stairs  of  a  tall 
building,  in  order  to  get  more  accurately  the  bearings  of  the 
fire.  He  now  for  the  first  time  realized  its  magnitude,  and 
was  appalled.  It  appeared  as  if  the  whole  south  side  must 


378  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

go.  At  certain  points  the  very  heavens  seemed  on  fire. 
The  sparks  filled  the  air  like  flakes  of  fiery  snow,  and  great 
blazing  fragments  of  roofs,  and  boards  from  lumber-yards, 
sailed  over  his  head,  with  the  ill-omened  glare  of  meteors. 
The  rush  and  roar  of  the  wind  and  flames  were  like  the 
thunder  of  Niagara,  and  to  this  awful  monotone  accompani- 
ment was  added  a  Babel  of  sounds — shrieks,  and  shouts  of 
human  voices,  the  sharp  crash  of  falling  buildings,  and  ever 
and  anon  heavy  detonations,  as  the  fire  reached  explosive 
material.  As  he  looked  down  into  the  white  upturned  faces 
in  the  thronged  streets,  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  the  people 
might  be  gathering  for  the  last  great  day.  Above  all  the 
uproar,  the  court-house  bell  could  be  heard,  with  its  heavy, 
solemn  clangor,  no  longer  ringing  alarm,  but  the  city's 
knell. 

But  he  saw  that  if  he  reached  his  own  little  room  in  time 
to  save  anything  he  must  hasten.  His  course  lay  near  the 
Art  Building,  the  place  so  thronged  with  associations  to 
him.  An  irresistible  impulse  drew  him  to  it.  It  was  evi- 
dent that  it  must  soon  go,  for  an  immense  building  to  the 
southwest,  on  the  same  block,  was  burning,  and  the  walls 
were  already  swaying. 

Suddenly  a  man  rushed  past  him,  and  Mr.  Ludolph  put 
his  pass  key  in  the  side  door. 

"Mr.  Ludolph,  it  is  not  safe  to  enter,"  said  Dennis. 

14  What  are  you  doing  here  with  your  ill-omened  face?" 
retorted  his  old  employer,  turning  toward  him  a  counte- 
nance terrible  in  its  expression.  As  we  have  seen,  any- 
thing that  threatened  Mr.  Ludolph's  interests,  even  that 
which  most  men  bow  before,  as  sickness  and  disaster,  only 
awakened  his  anger;  and  his  face  was  black  with  passion 
and  distorted  with  rage. 

The  door  yielded,  and  he  passed  in. 

"Come  back,  quick,  Mr.  Ludolph,  or  you  are  lost!" 
cried  Dennis  at  the  door. 

"I  will  get  certain  papers,  though  the  heavens  fall!" 
yelled  back  the  infuriated  man,  with  an  oath. 


BARON  LUDOLPH  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH     379 

Dennis  heard  an  awful  rushing  sound  in  the  air.  He 
drew  his  bat  over  his  face  as  he  ran,  crouching.  Hot  bricks 
rained  around  him,  but  fortunately  he  escaped. 

When  he  turned  to  look,  the  Art  Building  was  a  crushed 
and  blazing  ruin.  Sweet  girlish  faces  that  had  smiled  upon 
him  from  the  walls,  beautiful  classical  faces  that  had  in- 
spired his  artist  soul,  stern  Roman  faces,  that  had  made  the 
past  seem  real,  the  human  faces  of  gods  and  goddesses  that 
made  mythology  seem  not  wholly  a  myth,  and  the  white 
marble  faces  of  the  statuary,  that  ever  reminded  him  of 
Christine,  were  now  all  blackened  and  defaced  forever. 
But  not  of  these  he  thought,  as  he  shudderingly  covered 
his  eyes  with  his  hands  to  shut  out  the  vision;  but  of  that 
terrible  face  that  in  the  darkness  had  yelled  defiance  to 
Heaven. 


380  BARRIERS   BURNED 


CHAPTER  XLII1 

"CHRISTINE,  AWAKE!  FOR  YOUR  LIFE!" 

DENNIS  was  too  much  stunned  and  bewildered  to  do 
more  than  instinctively  work  his  way  to  the  wind- 
ward as  the  only  point  of  safety,  but  the  fire  was 
now  becoming  so  broad  in  its  sweep  that  to  do  this  was 
difficult.  The  awful  event  he  had  witnessed  seemed  par- 
tially to  paralyze  him;  for  he  knew  that  the  oath,  hot  as 
the  scorching  flames,  was  scarcely  uttered  before  Mr.  Lu- 
dolph's  lips  were  closed  forever.  He  and  his  ambitious 
dream  perished  in  a  moment,  and  he  was  summoned  to  the 
other  world  to  learn  what  his  proud  reason  scoffed  at  in  this. 

For  a  block  or  more  Dennis  was  passively  borne  alone 
by  the  rushing  mob.  Suddenly  a  voice  seemed  to  shout 
almost  in  his  ear,  "The  north  side  is  burning!"  and  he 
started  as  from  a  dream.  The  thought  of  Christine  flashed 
upon  him,  perishing  perhaps  in  the  flames.  He  remembered 
that  now  she  had  no  protector,  and  that  he  for  the  moment 
had  forgotten  her;  though  in  truth  he  had  never  imagined 
that  she  could  be  imperilled  by  the  burning  of  the  north 
side. 

In  an  agony  of  fear  and  anxiety  he  put  forth  every  effort 
of  which  he  was  capable,  and  tore  through  the  crowd  as  if 
mad.  There  was  no  way  of  getting  across  the  river  now 
save  by  the  La  Salle  Street  tunnel.  Into  this  dark  passage 
he  plunged  with  multitudes  of  others.  It  was  indeed  as 
near  Pandemonium  as  any  earthly  condition  could  be. 
Driven  forward  by  the  swiftly  pursuing  flames,  hemmed 
in  on  every  side,  a  shrieking,  frenzied,  terror-stricken 


"CHRISTINE,    AWAKE!    FOR    YOUR    LIFE!"          381 

throng  rushed  into  the  black  cavern.  Every  moral  grade 
was  represented  there.  Those  who  led  abandoned  lives 
were  plainly  recognizable,  their  guilty  consciences  finding 
expression  in  their  livid  faces.  These  jostled  the  refined 
and  delicate  lady,  who,  in  the  awful  democracy  of  the  hour, 
brushed  against  thief  and  harlot.  Little  children  wailed  for 
their  lost  parents,  and  many  were  trampled  underfoot. 
Parents  cried  for  their  children,  women  shrieked  for  their 
husbands,  some  praying,  many  cursing  with  oaths  as  hot  as 
the  flames  that  crackled  near.  Multitudes  were  in  no  other 
costumes  than  those  in  which  they  had  sprung  from  their 
beds.  Altogether  it  was  a  strange,  incongruous,  writhing 
mass  of  humanity,  such  as  the  world  had  never  looked 
upon,  pouring  into  what  might  seem,  in  its  horrors,  the 
mouth  of  hell. 

As  Dennis  entered  the  utter  darkness,  a  confused  roar 
smote  his  ear  that  might  have  appalled  the  stoutest  heart, 
but  he  was  now  oblivious  to  everything  save  Christine's 
danger.  With  set  teeth  he  put  his  shoulder  against  the 
living  mass  and  pushed  with  the  strongest  till  he  emerged 
into  the  glare  of  the  north  side.  Here,  escaping  somewhat 
from  the  throng,  he  made  his  way  rapidly  to  the  Ludolph 
mansion,  which  to  his  joy  he  found  was  still  considerably 
to  the  windward  of  the  fire.  But  he  saw  that  from  the 
southwest  another  line  of  flame  was  bearing  down  upon  it. 

The  front  door  was  locked,  and  the  house  utterly  dark. 
He  rang  the  bell  furiously,  but  there  was  no  response.  He 
walked  around  under  the  window  and  shouted,  but  the 
place  remained  as  dark  and  silent  as  a  tomb.  He  pounded 
on  the  door,  but  its  massive  thickness  scarcely  admitted 
of  a  reverberation. 

"They  must  have  escaped,"  he  said;  "but,  merciful 
heaven!  there  must  be  no  uncertainty  in  this  case.  What 
shall  I  do?" 

The  windows  of  the  lower  story  were  all  strongly  guarded 
and  hopeless,  but  one  opening  on  the  balcony  of  Christine's 
studio  seemed  practicable  if  it  could  be  reached.  A  half- 


882  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

grown  elm  swayed  its  graceful  branches  over  the  balcony, 
and  Dennis  knew  the  tough  and  fibrous  nature  of  this  tree. 
In  the  New  England  woods  of  his  early  home  he  had  learned 
to  climb  for  nuts  like  a  squirrel,  and  so  with  no  great  diffi- 
culty he  mounted  the  trunk  and  dropped  from  an  over- 
hanging branch  to  the  point  he  sought.  The  window  was 
down  at  the  top,  but  the  lower  sash  was  fastened.  He 
could  see  the  catch  by  the  light  of  the  fire.  He  broke  the 
pane  of  glass  nearest  it,  hoping  that  the  crash  might  awaken 
Christine,  if  she  were  still  there.  But  after  the  clatter  died 
away  there  was  no  sound.  He  then  noisily  raised  the  sash 
and  stepped  in. 

What  a  rush  of  memories  came  over  him  as  he  looked 
around  the  familiar  place!  There  was  the  spot  on  which 
he  had  stood  and  asked  for  the  love  that  he  had  valued 
more  than  life.  There  stood  the  easel  on  which,  through 
Christine's  gifted  touch,  his  painted  face  had  pleaded  with 
scarcely  less  eloquence,  till  he  blotted  it  out  with  his  own 
hand.  In  memory  of  it  all  his  heart  again  failed  him,  and 
he  sighed,  "She  will  never  love  me." 

But  there  was  no  time  for  sentiment.  He  called  loudly: 
41  Miss  Ludolph,  awake  I  awake!  for  your  life!" 

There  was  no  answer.  "She  must  be  gone,"  he  said. 
The  front  room,  facing  toward  the  west,  he  knew  to  be  her 
sleeping-apartment.  Going  through  the  passage,  he  knocked 
loudly,  and  called  again;  but  in  the  silence  that  followed  he 
heard  his  own  watch  tick,  and  his  heart  beat.  He  pushed 
the  door  open  with  the  feeling  of  one  profaning  a  shrine, 
and  looked  timidly  in.  Even  in  that  thrilling  hour  of  peril 
and  anxiety,  his  eye  was  enraptured  by  the  beauty  of  the 
room.  Not  only  was  it  furnished  with  the  utmost  luxuri- 
ance, but  everything  spoke  of  a  quaint  and  cultured  taste, 
from  the  curious  marble  clock  and  bronze  on  the  mantel, 
even  to  the  pattern  of  the  Turkey  carpet  on  which  the  glare 
of  the  fire,  as  it  glinted  through  the  shutters,  played  faintly. 
One  of  the  most  marked  features,  however,  was  an  exquisite 
life-size  statue  of  Diana  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  grasping  her 


" CHRISTINE,   AWAKE!    FOR    YOUR    LIFE!"          383 

bow  with  one  hand,  and  in  the  act  of  seizing  an  arrow  with 
the  other,  as  if  aroused  to  self-defence.  When  Dennis  first 
saw  it,  he  was  so  startled  by  its  lifelike  attitude  that  he 
stepped  back  into  the  passage.  But,  with  all  the  beauty  of 
the  room,  it  was  utterly  pagan;  not  a  single  thing  suggested 
Christian  faith  or  a  knowledge  of  the  true  God.  With  the 
exception  of  its  modern  air,  it  might  just  as  well  have  been 
the  resting-place  of  a  Greek  or  Koman  maiden  of  rank. 

Keassured,  he  timidly  advanced  again,  and  then  for  the 
first  time,  between  the  two  marble  statuettes  holding  back 
the  curtains  of  the  bed,  saw  Christine,  but  looking  more 
white  and  deathlike  than  the  marble  itself. 

She  lay  with  her  face  toward  him.  Her  hair  of  gold, 
unconfined,  streamed  over  the  pillow;  one  fair  round  arm, 
from  which  her  night-robe  had  slipped  back,  was  clasped 
around  her  head,  and  a  flickering  ray  of  light,  finding  ac- 
cess at  the  window,  played  upon  her  face  and  neck  with 
the  strangest  and  most  weird  effect. 

So  deep  was  her  slumber  that  she  seemed  dead,  and 
Dennis,  in  his  overwrought  state,  thought  that  she  was. 
For  a  moment  his  heart  stood  still,  and  his  tongue  was  para- 
lyzed. A  distant  explosion  aroused  him.  Approaching 
softly  he  said,  in  an  awed  whisper  (he  seemed  powerless 
to  speak  louder),  "Miss  Ludolph! — Christine!" 

But  the  light  of  the  coming  fire  played  and  flickered 
over  the  still,  white  face,  that  never  before  had  seemed  so 
strangely  beautiful. 

"Miss  Ludolph! — Oh,  Christine,  awake!"  cried  Dennis, 
louder. 

To  his  wonder  and  unbounded  perplexity,  he  saw  the 
hitherto  motionless  lips  wreathe  themselves  into  a  lovely 
smile,  but  otherwise  there  was  no  response,  and  the  ghostly 
light  played  and  flickered  on,  dancing  on  temple,  brow,  and 
snowy  throat,  and  clasping  the  white  arm  in  wavy  circlets 
of  gold.  It  was  all  so  weird  and  strange  that  he  was  grow- 
ing superstitious,  and  losing  faith  in  his  own  senses.  He 
could  not  know  that  she  was  under  the  influence  of  an 


384  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

opiate,  and  that  his  voice  of  all  others  could,  like  a  faint 
echo,  find  access  to  her  mind  so  deeply  sunk  in  lethargy. 

But  a  louder  and  nearer  explosion,  like  a  warning  voice, 
made  him  wholly  desperate;  and  he  roughly  seized  her 
hand,  determining  to  dispel  the  illusion,  and  learn  the 
truth  at  once. 

Christine's  blue  eyes  opened  wide  with  a  bewildered 
stare;  a  look  of  the  wildest  terror  came  into  them,  and  she 
started  up  and  shrieked,  "Father!  father!" 

Then  turning  toward  the  as  yet  unknown  invader,  she 
cried,  piteously:  "Oh,  spare  my  life!  Take  everything;  I 
will  give  you  anything  you  ask,  only  spare  my  life." 

She  evidently  thought  herself  addressing  a  ruthless 
robber. 

Dennis  retreated  toward  the  door  the  moment  she  awak- 
ened; and  this  somewhat  reassured  her. 

In  the  firm,  quiet  tone  that  always  calms  excitement  he 
replied,  "I  only  ask  you  to  give  me  your  confidence,  Miss 
Ludolph,  and  to  join  with  me,  Dennis  Fleet,  in  my  effort 
to  save  your  life. ' ' 

"Dennis  Fleet!  Dennis  Fleet!  save  my  life!  Oh,  ye; 
gods,  what  does  it  all  mean?"  and  she  passed  her  hand 
in  bewilderment  across  her  brow,  as  if  to  brush  away  the 
wild  fancies  of  a  dream. 

"Miss  Ludolph,  as  you  love  your  life  arouse  yourself 
and  escape!  The  city  is  burning!" 

"I  don't  believe  it!!'  she  cried,  in  an  agony  of  terror  and 
anger.  "Leave  the  room!  How  dare  you!  You  are  not 
Dennis  Fleet;  he  is  a  white  man,  and  you  are  black!  You 
are  an  impostor!  Leave  quick,  or  my  father  will  come  and 
take  your  life !  Father!  father!" 

Dennis  without  a  word  stepped  to  the  window,  tore  aside 
the  curtain,  threw  open  the  shutters,  and  the  fire  filled  the 
room  with  the  glare  of  noonday.  At  that  moment  an  ex- 
plosion occurred  which  shook  the  very  earth.  Everything 
rattled,  and  a  beautiful  porcelain  vase  fell  crashing  to 
the  floor. 


"CHRISTINE,    AWAKE!    FOR    YOUR    LIFE!"          385 

Christine  shrieked  and  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 
Dennis  approached  the  bedside,  and  said  in  a  gentle, 
firm  tone  that  she  knew  to  be  his:  "Miss  Ludolph,  I  am 
Mr.  Fleet.  My  face  is  blackened  through  smoke  and  dust, 
as  is  every  one's  out  in  the  streets  to-night.  You  know 
something  of  me,  and  I  think  you  know  nothing  dishonor- 
able. Can  you  not  trust  me  ?  Indeed  you  must;  your  life 
depends  upon  it!" 

"Oh,  pardon  me,  Mr.  Fleet!"  she  cried,  eagerly.  "I  am 
not  worthy  of  this,  but  now  that  I  know  you,  I  do  trust  you 
from  the  depth  of  my  soul!" 

"Prove  it  then  by  doing  just  as  I  bid  you,"  he  replied, 
in  a  voice  so  firm  and  prompt  that  it  seemed  almost  stern. 
Estreating  to  the  door,  he  continued:  "I  give  you  just  five 
minutes  in  which  to  make  your  toilet  and  gather  a  light 
bundle  of  your  choicest  valuables.  Dress  in  woollen 
throughout,  and  dress  warmly.  I  will  see  that  the  ser- 
vants are  aroused.  Your  father  is  on  the  south  side,  and 
cannot  reach  you.  You  must  trust  in  God  and  what  I  can 
do  for  you. ' J 

"I  must  trust  to  you  alone^  she  said.  "Please  send  my 
maid  to  me." 

Mr.  Ludolph  had  sipped  his  wine  during  the  evening, 
and  his  servants  had  sipped,  in  no  dainty  way,  something 
stronger,  and  therefore  had  not  awakened  readily.  But  the 
uproar  in  the  streets  had  aroused  them,  and  Dennis  found 
them  scuttling  down  the  upper  stairs  in  a  half-clad  state, 
each  bearing  a  large  bundle,  which  had  been  made  up  with- 
out regard  to  meum  and  tuum. 

"Och,  murtherl  is  the  world  burning  up?"  cried  the 
cook. 

"Be  still,  ye  howlin'  fool,"  said  the  cool  and  travelled 
maid.  "It's  only  von  big  fire!" 

"Go  to  your  mistress  and  help  her,  quick!"  cried  Dennis. 

"Go  to  my  meestress!  I  go  to  de  street  and  save  my 
life." 

"Oh,  Janettel"  cried  Christine.     "Come  and  help  me!" 
ROE— V— 17 


BURNED    AWAY 

"I  am  meeserable  zat  I  cannot.  I  must  bid  mademoiselle 
quick  adieu,"  said  the  heartless  creature,  still  keeping  up  the 
veneer  of  French  politeness. 

Dennis  looked  through  the  upper  rooms  and  was  satisfied 
that  they  were  empty.  Suddenly  a  piercing  shriek  from 
Christine  sent  him  flying  to  her  room.  As  he  ran  he  heard 
her  cry,  "Oh,  Mr.  Fleet!  come!  help!" 

To  go  back  a  little  (for  on  that  awful  night  events 
marched  as  rapidly  as  the  flames,  and  the  experience  of 
years  was  crowded  into  hours,  and  that  of  hours  into  mo- 
ments), Christine  had  sought  as  best  she  could  to  obey 
Dennis's  directions,  but  she  was  sadly  helpless,  having  been 
trained  to  a  foolish  dependence  on  her  maid.  She  had  ac- 
complished but  little  when  she  heard  a  heavy  step  in  the 
room.  Looking  up,  she  saw  a  strange  man  regarding  her 
with  an  evil  eye. 

41  What  do  you  want?"  she  faltered. 

"You,  for  one  thing,  and  all  you  have  got,  for  another," 
was  the  brutal  reply. 

"Leave  this  room!"  she  cried,  in  a  voice  she  vainly  tried 
to  render  firm. 

"Not  just  yet,"  he  answered,  with  a  satanic  grin.  She 
sought  to  escape  by  him  with  the  loud  cry  that  Dennis 
heard,  but  the  ruffian  planted  his  big  grimy  hand  in  the 
delicate  frill  of  her  night-robe  where  it  clasped  her  throat, 
and  with  a  coarse  laugh  said:  "Not  so  fast,  my  dainty!" 

Trembling  and  half  fainting  (for  she  had  no  physical 
courage),  she  cried  for  Dennis,  and  never  did  knightly  heart 
respond  with  more  brave  and  loving  throb  to  the  cry  of 
helpless  woman  than  his.  He  came  with  almost  the  impe- 
tus of  a  thunderbolt,  and  the  man,  startled,  looked  around, 
and  catching  a  glimpse  of  Dennis's  blazing  eyes,  dropped 
his  hold  on  Christine,  and  shrank  and  cowered  from  the 
blow  he  could  not  avert.  Before  his  hand  could  instinc- 
tively reach  the  pistol  it  sought,  there  was  a  thud,  and  he 
fell  like  a  log  to  the  floor.  Then,  springing  upon  him,  Den- 
nis took  away  his  weapons,  and,  seizing  him  by  the  collar 


"CHRISTINE,   AWAKE!   FOR    YOUR   LIFE!"          387 

of  his  coat,  dragged  him  backward  downstairs  and  thrust 
him  into  the  street.  Pointing  his  own  pistol  at  him,  he 
saidj  "If  you  trouble  us  again,  I  will  shoot  you  like  a  dog!" 

The  villain  slunk  off,  and  finding  some  kindred  spirits 
sacking  a  liquor-store  not  far  off,  he  joined  the  orgy,  seek- 
ing to  drown  his  rage  in  rum,  and  he  succeeded  so  effect- 
ually that  he  lay  in  the  gutter  soon  after.  The  escaping 
multitude  trampled  over  him,  and  soon  the  fire  blotted  out 
his  miserable  existence,  as  it  did  that  of  so  many  who  ren- 
dered themselves  powerless  by  drink. 

When  Dennis  returned  he  found  Christine  panting  help- 
lessly on  a  chair. 

"Oh,  dress!  dress!"  he  cried.  "We  have  not  a  moment 
to  spare. " 

The  sparks  and  cinders  were  falling  about  the  house, 
a  perfect  storm  of  fire.  The  roof  was  already  blazing,  and 
smoke  was  pouring  down  the  stairs. 

At  his  suggestion  she  had  at  first  laid  out  a  heavy 
woollen  dress  and  Scotch  plaid  shawl.  She  nervously 
sought  to  put  on  the  dress,  but  her  trembling  fingers 
could  not  fasten  it  over  her  wildly  throbbing  bosom. 
Dennis  saw  that  in  the  terrible  emergency  he  must  act 
the  part  of  a  brother  or  husband,  and  springing  forward 
he  assisted  her  with  the  dexterity  he  had  learned  in  child- 
hood. 

Just  then  a  blazing  piece  of  roof,  borne  on  the  wings  of 
the  gale,  crashed  through  the  window,  and  in  a  moment  the 
apartment,  that  had  seemed  like  a  beautiful  casket  for  a  still 
more  exquisite  jewel,  was  in  flames. 

Hastily  wrapping  Christine  in  the  blanket  shawl,  he 
snatched  her,  crying  and  wringing  her  hands,  into  the 
street. 

Holding  his  hand  she  ran  two  or  three  blocks  with  all 
the  speed  her  wild  terror  prompted;  then  her  strength  began 
to  fail,  and  she  pantingly  cried  that  she  could  run  no  longer. 
But  this  rapid  rush  carried  them  out  of  immediate  peril, 
and  brought  them  into  the  flying  throng  pressing  their  way 


388  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

northward  and  westward.  Wedged  into  the  multitude  they 
could  only  move  on  with  it  in  the  desperate  struggle  for- 
ward. But  fire  was  falling  about  them  like  a  meteoric 
shower. 

Suddenly  Christine  uttered  a  sharp  cry  of  pain.  She 
had  stepped  on  a  burning  cinder,  and  then  realized  for  the 
first  time,  in  her  excitement,  that  her  feet  were  bare. 

"Oh,  what  shall  I  do?"  she  cried  piteously,  limping  and 
leaning  heavily  on  Dennis's  arm. 

"Indeed,  Miss  Ludolph,  from  my  heart  I  pity  you." 

"Can  you  save  me?  Oh,  do  you  think  you  can  save 
me?"  she  moaned,  in  an  agony  of  fear. 

"Yes,  I  feel  sure  I  can.  At  any  rate  I  shall  not  leave 
you;"  and  taking  her  a  little  out  of  the  jostling  crowd  he 
kneeled  and  bound  up  the  burned  foot  with  his  handkerchief. 
A  little  further  on  they  came  to  a  shoe-store  with  doors 
open  and  owners  gone.  Almost  carrying  Christine  into  it, 
for  her  other  foot  was  cut  and  bleeding,  he  snatched  down 
a  pair  of  boy's  stout  gaiters,  and  wiping  with  another  hand- 
kerchief the  blood  and  dust  from  her  tender  little  feet,  he 
made  the  handkerchiefs  answer  for  stockings,  and  drew  the 
shoes  on  over  them. 

In  the  brief  moment  so  occupied,  Christine  said,  with 
tears  in  her  eyes:  "Mr.  Fleet,  how  kind  you  are  1  How  little 
I  deserve  all  this!" 

He  looked  up  with  a  happy  smile,  and  she  little  knew 
that  her  few  words  amply  repaid  him. 

There  was  a  crash  in  the  direction  of  the  fire.  With  a 
cry  of  fear,  Christine  put  out  her  hands  and  clung  to 
him. 

"Oh,  we  shall  perish!    Are  you  not  afraid  ?M 

"I  tremble  for  you,  Miss  Ludolph." 

"Not  for  yourself?" 

"No!  why  should  I?  I  am  safe.  Heaven  and  mother 
are  just  beyond  this  tempest." 

"I  would  give  worlds  for  your  belief." 

"Come,  quick!"  cried  he,  and  they  joined  the  fugitives, 


"CHRISTINE,   AWAKE!   FOR    YOUR   LIFE!"          389 

and  for  a  half -hour  pressed  forward  as  fast  as  was  possible 
through  the  choked  streets,  Dennis  merely  saying  an  en- 
couraging word  now  and  then.  Suddenly  she  felt  herself 
carried  to  one  side,  and  falling  to  the  ground  with  him. 
In  a  moment  he  lifted  her  up,  and  she  saw  with  sickening 
terror  an  infuriated  dray-horse  plunging  through  the  crowd, 
striking  down  men,  women,  and  children. 

"Are  you  hurt?"  he  asked,  gently,  passing  his  arm 
around  her  and  helping  her  forward,  that  they  might  not 
lose  a  single  step. 

"Awful I     Awful!"  she  said,  in  a  low,  shuddering  tone. 

The  dreadful  scenes  and  the  danger  were  beginning  to 
overpower  her. 

A  little  further  on  they  reached  an  avenue  to  the  north- 
west through  which  Dennis  hoped  to  escape.  But  they 
could  make  but  little  headway  through  the  dense  masses 
of  drays,  carriages,  and  human  beings,  and  at  last  every- 
thing came  to  a  deadlock.  Their  only  hope  was  to  stand 
in  their  place  till  the  living  mass  moved  on  again. 

Strange,  grotesque,  and  sad  beyond  measure  were  the 
scenes  by  which  they  were  surrounded.  By  the  side  of 
the  aristocratic  Christine,  now  Baroness  Ludolph,  stood  a 
stout  Irishwoman,  hugging  a  grunting,  squealing  pig  to  her 
breast.  A  little  in  advance  a  hook-nosed  spinster  carried 
in  a  cage  a  hook  nosed  parrot  that  kept  discordantly  crying, 
"Polly  want  a  cracker."  At  Dennis's  left  a  delicate  lady 
of  the  highest  social  standing  clasped  to  her  bare  bosom  a 
babe  that  slept  as  peacefully  as  in  the  luxurious  nursery 
at  home.  At  her  side  was  a  little  girl  carrying  as  tenderly 
a  large  wax  doll.  A  diamond  necklace  sparkled  like  a 
circlet  of  fire  around  the  lady's  neck.  Her  husband  had 
gone  to  the  south  side,  and  she  had  had  but  time  to  snatch 
this  and  her  children.  A  crowd  of  obscene  and  profane 
rowdies  stood  just  behind  them,  and  with  brutal  jest  and 
coarse  laughter  they  passed  around  a  whiskey-bottle.  One 
of  these  roughs  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  diamond  necklace, 
and  was  putting  forth  his  blackened  hand  to  grasp  it,  when 


390  BARRIERS   BURNED   A  WAV 

Dennis  pointed  the  captured  pistol  at  him  and  said,  "This 
is  law  now!" 
The  fellow  slunk  back. 

Just  before  them  was  a  dray  with  a  corpse  half  covered 
with  a  blanket.  The  family  sat  around  crying  and  wring- 
ing their  hands,  and  the  driver  stood  in  his  seat,  cursing 
and  gesticulating  for  those  in  advance  to  move  on.  Some 
moments  passed,  but  there  was  no  progress.  Dennis  became 
very  anxious,  for  the  fire  was  rapidly  approaching,  and  the 
sparks  were  falling  like  hail.  Every  few  moments  some 
woman's  dress  was  ablaze,  or  some  one  was  struck  by  the 
flying  brands,  and  shrieks  for  help  were  heard  on  every 
side.  Christine,  being  clad  in  woollen,  escaped  this  peril 
in  part.  She  stood  at  Dennis's  side  trembling  like  a  leaf, 
with  her  hands  over  her  face  to  shut  out  the  terrible  sights. 

At  last  the  driver,  fearing  for  his  life,  jumped  off  his 
dray  and  left  all  to  their  fate.  But  a  figure  took  his  place 
that  thrilled  Dennis's  heart  with  horror. 

There  on  the  high  seat  stood  Susie  Winthrop — rather 
Mrs.  Leonard.  The  light  of  insanity  glowed  in  her  eyes; 
her  long  hair  swept  away  to  the  north,  and  turning  toward 
the  fiery  tempest  she  bent  forward  as  if  looking  for  some 
one.  But  after  a  moment  she  sadly  shook  her  head,  as  if 
she  had  sought  in  vain.  Suddenly  she  reached  out  her 
white  arms  toward  the  fire,  and  sang,  clear  and  sweet 
above  the  horrid  din: 

"0  burning  flakes  of  fiery  snow, 
Bury  me  too,  bury  me  deep ; 
My  lover  sleeps  thy  banks  below; 
Fall  on  me,  that  I  may  sleep  I" 

At  this  moment  a  blazing  brand  fell  upon  the  horses7 
heads;  they  startled  forward,  and  the  crazed  lady  fell  over 
on  the  corpse  below.  The  animals  being  thoroughly  terri- 
fied turned  sharp  around  on  the  sidewalk,  and  tore  their 
way  right  toward  the  fire,  trampling  down  those  in  their 
track,  and  so  vanished  with  their  strangely  assorted  load. 


"CHRISTINE,   AWAKE!    FOR    YOUR    LIFE!"          391 

Dennis,  fearing  to  stay  any  longer  where  he  was,  deter- 
mined to  follow  in  their  wake  and  find  a  street  leading 
to  the  north  less  choked,  even  though  it  might  be  nearer 
the  fire,  and  so  with  his  trembling  companion  he  pressed 
forward  again. 

Two  blocks  below  he  found  one  comparatively  clear,  but 
in  terrible  proximity  to  the  conflagration.  Indeed,  the 
houses  were  burning  on  each  side,  but  the  street  seemed 
clear  of  flame.  He  thought  that  by  swiftly  running  they 
could  get  through.  But  Christine's  strength  was  fast  failing 
her,  and  just  as  they  reached  the  middle  of  the  block  a  tall 
brick  building  fell  across  the  street  before  them !  Thus  their 
only  path  of  escape  was  blocked  by  a  blazing  mass  of  ruins 
that  it  would  have  been  death  to  cross. 

They  seemed  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  and  Dennis 
groaned  in  agony. 

Christine  looked  for  a  moment  at  the  impassable  fiery 
barrier,  then  at  Dennis,  in  whose  face  and  manner  she  read 
unutterable  sympathy  for  herself,  and  the  truth  flashed 
upon  her. 

With  a  piercing  shriek  she  fainted  dead  away  in  his  arms» 


892  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTEK  XLIV 

ON   THE   BEACH 

IN  the  situation  of  supreme  peril  described  in  the  last 
chapter,  Dennis  stood  a  second  helpless  and  hopeless. 
Christine  rested  a  heavy  burden  in  his  arms,  happily 
unconscious.  Breathing  an  agonized  prayer  to  heaven,  he 
looked  around  for  any  possibility  of  escape.  Just  then  an 
express- wagon  was  driven  furiously  toward  them,  its  driver 
seeking  his  way  out  by  the  same  path  that  Dennis  had 
chosen.  As  he  reached  them  the  man  saw  the  hopeless 
obstruction,  and  wheeled  his  horses.  As  he  did  so,  quick 
as  thought,  Dennis  threw  Christine  into  the  bottom  of  the 
wagon,  and,  clinging  to  it,  climbed  into  it  himself.  He 
turned  her  face  downward  from  the  fire,  and,  covering  his 
own,  he  crouched  beside  her,  trusting  all  now  to  God. 

The  driver  urged  his  horses  toward  the  lake,  believing 
that  his  only  chance.  They  tore  away  through  the  blazing 
streets.  The  poor  man  was  #oon  swept  from  his  seat  and 
perished,  but  his  horses  rushed  madly  on  till  they  plunged 
into  the  lake. 

At  the  sound  of  water  Dennis  lifted  his  head  and  gave 
a  cry  of  joy.  It  seemed  that  the  hand  of  God  had  snatched 
them  from  death.  Gently  he  lifted  Christine  out  upon  the 
sands  and  commenced  bathing  her  face  from  the  water  that 
broke  in  spray  at  his  feet.  She  soon  revived  and  looked 
around.  In  a  voice  full  of  awe  and  wonder  she  whispered, 
"Ah!  there  is  another  world  and  another  life,  after  all." 

"Indeed  there  is,  Miss  Ludolph, "  said  Dennis,  support- 
ing heron  his  arm  and  bending  over  her,  l'but,  thanks  to 
a  merciful  Providence,  you  are  still  in  this  one." 


ON   THE   BEACH  393 

14 How  is  it?"  she  said,  with  a  bewildered  air.  "I  do  not 
understand.  The  last  I  remember,  we  were  surrounded  by 
fire,  you  were  despairing,  and  it  seemed  that  1  died. ' ' 

"You  fainted,  Miss  Ludolph.  But  God  as  by  a  miracle 
brought  us  out  of  the  furnace,  and  for  the  present  we  are 
safe."  After  she  had  sufficiently  rallied  from  her  .excessive 
exhaustion  and  terror,  he  told  her  how  they  escaped. 

"1  see  no  God  in  it  all,"  she  said;  "only  a  most  fortu- 
nate opportunity,  of  which  you,  with  great  nerve  and  pres- 
ence of  mind,  availed  yourself.  To  you  alone,  again  and 
again  this  dreadful  night,  I  owe  my  life." 

"God  uses  us  as  His  instruments  to  do  His  will.  The 
light  will  come  to  you  by  and  by,  and  you  will  learn  a 
better  wisdom." 

"In  this  awful  conflagration  the  light  has  come.  On 
every  side  I  see  as  in  letters  of  fire,  'There  is  no  God.'  If 
it  were  otherwise  these  scenes  would  be  impossible.  And 
any  being  permitting  or  causing  the  evils  and  crimes  this 
dreadful  night  has  witnessed,  I  shall  fear  and  hate  beyond 
the  power  of  language  to  express. ' ' 

She  uttered  these  words  sitting  on  the  sands  with  multi- 
tudes of  others,  her  face  (from  which  Dennis  had  washed  the 
dust  and  smoke)  looking  in  the  glare  so  wan  and  white  that 
he  feared,  with  a  sickening  dread,  that  through  exposure, 
terror,  or  some  of  the  many  dangers  by  which  they  were 
surrounded,  she  might  pass  into  the  future  world  with  all 
her  unbelief  and  spiritual  darkness.  He  yearned  over  her 
with  a  solicitude  and  pity  that  he  could  not  express.  She 
seemed  so  near — indeed  he  could  feel  her  form  tremble,  as 
she  kneeled  beside  her,  and  supported  her  by  his  arm — and 
yet,  in  view  of  her  faithless  state,  how  widely  were  they 
separated !  Should  any  one  of  the  many  perils  about  them 
quench  the  little  candle  of  her  life,  which  even  now  flick- 
ered faintly,  where  in  the  wide  universe  could  he  hope  to 
meet  her  again  ?  God  can  no  doubt  console  His  children 
and  make  up  to  them  every  loss,  but  the  passionate  heart, 
with  its  intense  human  love,  clings  to  its  idol  none  the  less. 


394  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

Dennis  saw  that  the  fire  would  probably  hem  them  in  on 
the  beach  for  the  remainder  of  the  night  and  the  following 
day.  He  determined  therefore  in  every  way  possible  to  be- 
guile the  weary,  perilous  hours,  and,  if  she  would  permit  it, 
to  lead  her  thoughts  heavenward.  Hence  arose  from  time 
to  time  conversations,  to  which,  with  joy,  he  found  Chris- 
tine no  longer  averse.  Indeed,  she  often  introduced  them. 

Chafing  her  hands,  he  said  in  accents  of  the  deepest  sym- 
pathy, "How  I  pity  you,  Miss  Ludolph!  It  must  indeed  be 
terrible  to  possess  your  thoughtful  mind,  to  realize  these 
scenes  so  keenly,  and  yet  have  no  faun  in  a  Divine  Friend. 
I  cannot  explain  to  you  the  mystery  of  evil — why  it  came, 
or  why  it  exists.  Who  can  ?  I  am  but  one  of  God's  little 
children,  and  only  know  with  certainty  that  my  Heavenly 
Father  loves  and  will  take  care  of  me." 

44 How  do  you  know  it?"  she  asked,  eagerly. 

"In  several  ways.     Mainly  because  I  feel  it." 

"It  all  seems  so  vague  and  unreal,"  she  sighed,  dream- 
ily. "There  is  nothing  certain,  assured.  There  is  no  test 
by  which  I  can  at  once  know  the  truth." 

"That  does  not  prevent  the  truth  from  existing.  That 
some  are  blind  is  no  proof  that  color  does  not  exist. ' ' 

"But  how  can  you  be  sure  there  is  a  God?  You  never 
saw  Him." 

"I  do  not  see  the  heat  that  scorches  us,  but  I  feel  it,  and 
know  it  exists." 

"But  I  feel  the  heat  the  same  as  yourself,  and  I  have  no 
consciousness  of  a  Divine  Being. ' ' 

"That  does  not  take  away  my  consciousness  that  He  is 
my  Saviour  and  Friend.  As  yet  you  are  spiritually  dead. 
If  you  were  physically  dead,  you  would  not  feel  the  heat  of 
this  fire." 

"Oh,  it  is  all  mystery— darkness, "  she  cried,  piteously. 

The  sun  had  now  risen  quite  above  the  waters  of  the 
lake,  but  seen  through  the  lurid  smoke  which  swept  over 
its  face,  it  seemed  like  one  of  the  great  red  cinders  that 
were  continually  sailing  over  their  heads.  In  the  frightful 


ON    THE   BEACH  395 

glare,  the  transition  from  night  to  day  had  scarcely  been 
noted.  The  long,  narrow  beach  was  occupied  by  thousands 
of  fugitives,  who  were  hemmed  in  on  every  side.  On  the 
south  was  the  river,  skirted  with  fire,  while  opposite,  on 
the  west,  the  heat  was  almost  intolerable;  on  the  east  were 
the  cold  waves  of  the  lake,  and  on  the  north  a  burning  pier 
that  they  could  not  cross.  Their  only  hope  was  to  cling  to 
that  narrow  line  where  fire  and  water  mingled,  and  with  one 
element  to  fight  the  other.  Here  again  was  seen  the  min- 
gling of  all  classes  which  the  streets  and  every  place  of  refuge 
witnessed.  Judges,  physicians,  statesmen,  clergymen,  bank- 
ers, were  jostled  by  roughs  and  thieves.  The  laborer  sat  on 
the  sand  with  his  family,  side  by  side  with  the  millionaire 
and  his  household.  The  poor  debauched  woman  of  the 
town  moaned  and  shivered  in  her  scant  clothing,  at  a  slight 
remove  from  the  most  refined  Christian  lady.  In  the  un- 
paralleled disaster,  all  social  distinctions  were  lost,  levelled 
like  the  beach  on  which,  the  fugitives  cowered.  From  some 
groups  was  heard  the  voice  of  prayer;  from  others,  bitter 
wailings  and  passionate  cries  for  lost  members  of  the 
family;  others  had  saved  quantities  of  vile  whiskey,  if 
nothing  else,  and  made  the  scene  more  ghastly  by  orgies 
that  seemed  not  of  earth.  Added  to  the  liquor  were  the 
mad  excitement  and  recklessness  which  often  seize  the 
depraved  classes  on  such  occasions.  They  committed  ex- 
cesses that  cannot  be  mentioned — these  drunken,  howling, 
fighting  wretches.  Obscene  epithets  and  words  fell  around 
like  blows.  And  yet  all  were  so  occupied  with  their  own 
misfortunes,  sufferings,  and  danger,  as  scarcely  to  heed  their 
neighbors,  unless  these  became  very  violent. 

Upon  this  heterogeneous  mass  of  humanity  the  fire  rained 
down  almost  as  we  imagine  it  to  have  fallen  upon  the  doomed 
cities  of  the  plain,  and  the  hot  breath  of  the  flames  scorched 
the  exposed  cheek  and  crisped  even  eyebrows  and  hair. 
Sparks,  flakes,  cinders,  pieces  of  roof,  and  fiery  pebbles 
seemed  to  fill  the  air,  and  often  cries  and  shrieks  announced 
that  furniture  and  bedding  which  had  been  dragged  thither, 


396  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

and  even  the  clothing  of  women  and  children,  were  burning. 
Added  to  all  the  other  terrors  of  the  scene  was  the  presence 
of  large  numbers  of  horses  and  cattle,  snorting  and  plunging 
in  their  fright  and  pain. 

But  the  sound  that  smote  Dennis's  heart  with  the  deepest 
commiseration  was  the  continuous  wail  of  helpless  little  chil- 
dren, many  of  them  utterly  separated  from  parents  and 
friends,  and  in  the  very  agony  of  fear. 

He  greatly  dreaded  the  effect  of  these  upon  Christine, 
knowing  how,  in  the  luxurious  past,  she  had  been  shielded 
from  every  rough  experience.  But  she  at  length  rallied  into 
something  like  composure.  Her  constitution  was  elastic  and 
full  of  vitality,  and  after  escaping  from  immediate  danger  she 
again  began  to  hope.  Moreover,  to  a  degree  that  even  she 
could  not  understand,  his  presence  was  a  source  of  strength 
and  courage,  and  her  heart  clung  to  him  with  desperate  ear- 
nestness, believing  him  the  sole  barrier  against  immediate 
death,  and  (what  she  dreaded  scarcely  less)  a  lonely,  wretched 
existence,  should  her  life  be  spared. 

Though  he  never  lost  sight  of  her  for  a  moment,  and 
kept  continually  wetting  her  hair  and  person,  he  found  time 
to  render  assistance  to  others,  and,  by  carrying  his  hat  full 
of  water  here  and  there,  extinguished  many  a  dangerous 
spark.  He  also,  again  and  again,  snatched  up  little  chil- 
dren from  under  the  trampling  hoofs  of  frightened  horses. 

As  she  watched  him,  so  self -forgetful  and  fearless,  she 
realized  more  and  more  vividly  that  he  was  sustained  and 
animated  by  some  mighty  principle  that  she  knew  nothing 
of,  and  could  not  understand.  The  impression  grew  upon  her 
that  he  was  right  and  she  wrong.  Though  it  all  remained 
in  mystery  and  doubt,  she  could  not  resist  the  logic  of  true 
Christian  action. 

But  as  the  day  advanced  the  flames  grew  hotter,  and 
their  breath  more  withering.  About  noon  Dennis  noticed 
that  some  shanties  on  the  sand  near  them  were  in  danger  of 
catching  fire  and  perilling  all  in  that  vicinity.  Therefore 
he  said,  "Miss  Ludolph,  stay  here  where  I  leave  you 


ON    THE   BEACH  397 

for  a  little  time,  so  that  I  may  know  just  where  to  find 
you." 

"Oh,  do  not  leave  me!"  she  pleaded;  "I  have  no  one  in 
the  wide  world  to  help  me  except  you." 

"I  shall  not  be  beyond  call.  You  see  those  shanties 
there;  if  possible  we  must  keep  them  from  burning,  or  the 
fire  will  come  too  near  for  safety. "  Then,  starting  forward, 
he  cried,  "Who  will  volunteer  to  keep  the  fire  back?  All 
must  see  that  if  those  buildings  burn  we  shall  be  in  danger. ' ' 

Several  men  stepped  forward,  and  with  hats  and  any- 
thing that  would  hold  water  they  began  to  wet  the  old 
rookeries.  But  the  fiery  storm  swooped  steadily  down  on 
them,  and  their  efforts  were  as  futile  as  if  they  had  tried  to 
beat  back  the  wind.  Suddenly  a  mass  of  flame  leaped  upon 
the  buildings,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  all  ablaze. 

"Into  the  lake,  quick!"  cried  Dennis,  and  all  rushed  for 
the  cool  waters. 

Lifting  Christine  from  the  sand,  and  passing  his  arm 
around  her  trembling,  shivering  form,  he  plunged  through 
the  breakers,  and  the  crowd  pressed  after  him.  Indeed  they 
pushed  him  so  far  out  in  the  cold  waves  that  he  nearly  lost 
his  footing,  and  for  a  few  moments  Christine  lost  hers  alto- 
gether, and  added  her  cries  to  those  of  the  terror-stricken 
multitude.  But  pushing  in  a  little  nearer  the  shore,  he  held 
her  firmly  and  said  with  the  confidence  that  again  inspired 
hope:  "Courage,  Miss  Ludolph.  With  God's  help  I  will 
save  you  yet." 

Even  as  she  clung  to  him  in  the  water,  she  looked  into 
his  face.  He  was  regarding  her  so  kindly,  so  pitifully,  that 
a  great  and  generous  impulse,  the  richest,  ripest  fruit  of  her 
human  love,  throbbed  at  her  heart,  and  faltered  from  her  lips 
— "Mr.  Fleet,  I  am  not  worthy  of  this  risk  on  your  part.  If 
you  will  leave  me  you  can  save  your  own  life,  and  your  life 
is  worth  so  much  more  than  mine!" 

True  and  deep  must  have  been  the  affection  that  could 
lead  Christine  Ludolph  to  say  such  words  to  any  human 
being.  There  was  a  time  when,  in  her  creed,  all  the  world 


398  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

existed  but  to  minister  to  her.  But  she  was  not  sorry  to  see 
the  look  of  pained  surprise  which  came  into  Dennis's  face 
and  to  hear  him  say,  very  sadly:  "Miss  Ludolph,  I  did  not 
imagine  that  you  could  think  me  capable  of  that.  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  rescue  Miss  Brown  last  night,  at  greater  peril 
than  this,  and  do  you  think  I  would  leave  you  ?" 

"You  are  a  true  knight,  Mr.  Fleet,"  she  said,  humbly, 
"and  the  need  or  danger  of  every  defenceless  woman  is  alike 
a  sacred  claim  upon  you. ' ' 

Dennis  was  about  to  intimate  that,  though  this  was  true 
in  knightly  creed,  still  among  all  the  women  in  the  world 
there  might  be  a  preference,  when  a  score  of  horses,  driven 
before  the  fire,  and  goaded  by  the  burning  cinders,  rushed 
down  the  beach,  into  the  water,  right  among  the  human 
fugitives. 

Again  went  up  the  cry  of  agony  and  terror.  Some  were 
no  doubt  stricken  down  not  to  rise  again.  In  the  melee 
Dennis  pushed  out  into  deeper  water,  where  the  frantic 
animals  could  not  plunge  upon  him.  A  child  floated  near, 
and  he  snatched  it  up.  As  soon  as  the  poor  brutes  became 
quiet,  clasping  Christine  with  his  right  arm  and  holding  up 
the  child  with  the  other,  he  waded  into  shallow  water. 

The  peril  was  now  perhaps  at  its  height,  and  all  were 
obliged  to  wet  their  heads,  to  keep  even  their  hair  from 
singeing.  Those  on  the  beach  threw  water  on  each  other 
without  cessation.  Many  a  choice  bit  of  property — it  might 
be  a  piano,  or  an  express-wagon  loaded  with  the  richest  furs 
and  driven  to  the  beach  as  a  place  of  fancied  security — now 
caught  fire,  and  added  to  the  heat  and  consternation. 

When  this  hour  of  extreme  danger  had  passed,  standing 
with  the  cold  billows  of  the  lake  breaking  round  him,  and 
the  billows  of  fire  still  rolling  overhead,  Dennis  began  to 
sing  in  his  loud,  clear  voice: 

"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 

Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 
While  the  tempest  still  is  high." 


ON   THE   BEACH  399 

Voice  after  voice  joined  in,  some  loud  and  strong,  but 
others  weak  and  trembling — the  pitiful  cry  of  poor  terror- 
stricken  women  to  the  only  One  who  it  seemed  could  help 
them  in  their  bitter  extremity.  Never  before  were  those 
beautiful  words  sung  in  such  accents  of  clinging,  touching 
faith.  Its  sweet  cadence  was  heard  above  the  roar  of  the 
flames  and  the  breakers. 

Christine  could  only  cling  weeping  to  Dennis. 

When  the  hymn  ceased,  in  harshest  discord  the  voice  of 
a  half-drunken  man  grated  on  their  ears. 

44  An'  what  in  bloody  blazes  does  yer  Jasus  burn  us  all 
up  for,  I'd  like  to  know.  Sure  an7  he's  no  right  to  send  us 
to  hell  before  our  time." 

4 'Oh,  hush!  hush!"  cried  a  dozen  voices,  shocked  and 
pained. 

"Divil  a  bit  will  I  hush,  sure;  an'  haven't  I  as  good  a 
right  to  have  me  say  as  that  singin'  parson!" 

44  You  are  an  Irishman,  are  you  not?"  said  Dennis,  now 
venturing  out  of  the  water. 

4'Yis!  what  have  ye  got  to  say  agin  it?"  asked  the  man, 
belligerent  at  once. 

4 'Did  you  ever  know  an  Irishman  refuse  to  do  what  a 
lady  asked  of  him  ?'  * 

4 'Faith  no,  and  I  niver  will." 

44 Then  this  lady,  who  is  sick  and  suffering,  asks  you  to. 
please  keep  still,  and  I  will  be  still  also;  so  that's  fair." 

The  Irishman  scratched  his  head  a  moment,  and  said  in 
a  quieter  tone,  *4 Since  ye  spake  so  civil  and  dacent,  I'll  do 
as  ye  sez;  and  here's  to  the  leddy's  health;"  and  he  fin- 
ished a  bottle  of  whiskey,  which  soon  laid  him  out  on  the 
beach, 

4 'Thank  you!  Thank  you!"  said  grateful  voices  on 
every  side. 

Dennis  found  the  mother  of  the  child  and  gave  it  to  her; 
and  then  causing  Christine  to  sit  down  near  the  water,  where 
he  could  easily  throw  it  on  her,  he  stood  at  her  side,  vigilant 
and  almost  tender  in  his  solicitude.  Her  tears  were  falling 


400  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

very  fast,  and  he  presently  stooped  down  and  said,  gently, 
"Miss  Ludolph,  I  think  the  worst  of  the  danger  is  over." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Fleet!"  she  whispered,  "dreadful  as  it  may 
seem  to  you,  the  words  of  that  drunken  brute  there  are 
nearer  the  language  of  my  heart  than  those  of  your  sweet 
hymn.  How  can  a  good  God  permit  such  creatures  and 
evils  to  exist?" 

"Again  I  must  say  to  you,"  said  Dennis,  "that  I  cannot 
explain  the  mystery  of  evil.  But  I  know  this,  God  is  su- 
perior to  it;  He  will  at  last  triumph  over  it.  The  Bible 
reveals  Him  to  us  as  able  and  as  seeking  to  deliver  all  who 
will  trust  Him  and  work  with  Him,  and  those  who  venture 
out  upon  His  promises  find  them  true.  Miss  Ludolph,  this 
is  not  merely  a  matter  of  theory,  argument,  and  belief.  It 
is  more  truly  a  matter  of  experience.  The  Bible  invites, 
'Oh,  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good.'  I  have  tasted 
and  know  He  is.  I  have  trusted  Him  for  years,  and  He 
never  failed  me." 

"You  certainly  have  been  sustained  throughout  this 
dreadful  scene  by  a  principle  that  I  cannot  understand,  but 
I  would  give  all  the  world  to  possess  it. ' ' 

"You  may  possess  it,  Miss  Ludolph." 

"How?  how?"  she  asked,  eagerly. 

"Do  you  wish  to  believe  as  I  do  ?" 

"Yes,  indeed;  and  yet  my  heart  rebels  against  a  God 
who  permits,  even  if  He  does  not  cause,  all  this  evil. ' ' 

"Does  it  rebel  against  a  Being  who  from  first  to  last  tries 
to  save  men  from  evil  ?' ' 

"Tries!  tries!  what  an  expression  to  apply  to  a  God! 
Why  does  He  not  do  it  in  every  case  ?" 

"Because  multitudes  will  not  let  Him." 

"Oh,  that  is  worse  still!  Surely,  Mr.  Fleet,  you  let  your 
reason  have  nothing  to  do  with  your  faith.  How  can  a  poor 
and  weak  being  like  myself  prevent  an  Almighty  one  from 
doing  what  He  pleases?" 

"I  am  stronger  than  you,  Miss  Ludolph,  and  yet  I  could 
not  have  saved  you  to-night  unless  you  had  first  trusted 


ON    THE   BEACH  401 

me,   and  then  done  everything  in  your  power  to  further 
my  efforts." 

"But  your  power  is  human  and  limited,  and  you  say 
God  is  all-powerful." 

"Yes,  but  it  is  His  plan  and  purpose  never  to  save  us 
against  our  will.  He  has  made  us  in  His  own  image  and 
endowed  us  with  reason,  conscience,  and  a  will  to  choose 
between  good  and  evil.  He  appeals  to  these  noble  faculties 
from  first  to  last.  He  has  given  us  hearts,  and  seeks  to  win 
them  by  revealing  His  love  to  us.  More  than  all,  His  Spirit, 
present  in  the  world,  uses  every  form  of  truth  in  persuad- 
ing and  making  us  willing  to  become  His  true  children. 
So  you  see  that  neither  on  the  one  hand  does  God  gather 
us  up  like  drift- wood  nor  does  He  on  the  other  drag  us  at 
His  chariot  wheels,  unwilling  captives,  as  did  those  who, 
at  various  times,  have  sought  to  overrun  the  world  by  force. 
God  seeks  to  conquer  the  world  by  the  might  of  the  truth, 
by  the  might  of  love." 

Christine  was  hanging  with  the  most  eager  interest  on 
his  words.  Suddenly  his  eyes,  which  had  expressed  such 
a  kindly  and  almost  tender  interest  in  her,  blazed  with  in- 
dignation, and  he  darted  up  the  beach.  Turning  around 
she  saw,  at  some  little  distance,  a  young  woman  most  scan- 
tily clad,  clinging  desperately  to  a  bundle  which  a  large, 
coarse  man  was  trying  to  wrench  from  her.  The  wretch, 
finding  that  he  could  not  loosen  her  hold,  struck  her  in  the 
face  with  such  force  that  she  fell  stunned  upon  the  ground, 
and  the  bundle  flew  out  of  her  hand.  He  eagerly  snatched 
it  up,  believing  it  to  contain  jewelry.  Before  he  could  es- 
cape he  was  confronted  by  an  unexpected  enemy.  But 
Dennis  was  in  a  passion,  and  withal  weak  and  exhausted,' 
while  his  adversary  was  cool,  and  an  adept  in  the  pugilistic 
art.  The  two  men  fought  savagely,  and  Christine,  forget- 
ing  herself  in  her  instinctive  desire  to  help  Dennis,  was 
rushing  to  his  side,  crying,  "If  there  is  a  man  here  worthy 
of  the  name,  let  him  strike  for  the  right!"  but  before  she 
and  others  could  reach  the  combatants  the  thief  had  planted 


402  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

his  fist  on  Dennis's  temple.  Though  the  latter  partially 
parried  the  blow,  it  fell  with  such  force  as  to  extend  him 
senseless  on  the  earth.  The  villain,  with  a  shout  of  deri- 
sion, snatched  up  the  bundle  and  dashed  off  apparently 
toward  the  fire.  There  was  but  a  feeble  attempt  made  to 
follow  him.  Few  understood  the  case,  and  indeed  scenes 
of  violence  and  terror  had  become  so  common  that  the  ma- 
jority had  grown  apathetic,  save  in  respect  to  their  personal 
well-being. 

Christine  lifted  the  pale  face,  down  which  the  blood  was 
trickling,  into  her  lap,  and  cried,  in  a  tone  of  indescribable 
anguish,  "Oh,  he  is  dead!  he  is  dead!11 

"Oh,  no,  miss;  he  is  not  dead,  I  guess,"  said  a  good- 
natured  voice  near.  "Let  me  bring  a  hatful  of  water  from 
the  lake,  and  that'll  bring  him  to." 

And  so  it  did.  Dennis  opened  his  eyes,  put  his  hand  to 
his  head,  and  then  looked  around.  But  when  he  saw  Chris- 
tine bending  over  him  with  tearful  eyes,  and  realized  how 
tenderly  she  had  pillowed  his  aching  head,  he  started  up 
with  a  deep  flush  of  pleasure,  and  said:  "Do  not  be  alarmed, 
Miss  Ludolph;  I  was  only  stunned  for  a  moment.  Where 
is  the  thief?" 

"Oh,  they  let  him  escape,"  said  Christine,  indignantly. 

"Shame!"  cried  Dennis,  regaining  his  feet  rather  un- 
steadily. 

"Wai,  stranger,  a  good  many  wrongs  to-night  must  go 
unrighted. " 

The  poor  girl  who  had  been  robbed  sat  on  the  sands 
swaying  backing  and  forth,  wringing  her  hands,  and  crying 
that  she  had  lost  everything. 

"Well,  my  poor  friend,  that  is  about  the  case  with  the 
most  of  us.  We  may  be  thankful  that  we  have  our  lives. 
Here  is  my  coat,"  for  her  shoulders  and  neck  were  bare; 
"and  if  you  will  come  down  to  the  lake  this  lady,"  pointing  to 
Christine,  "will  bathe  the  place  where  the  brute  struck  you." 

"Shall  I  not  give  up  my  shawl  to  some  of  these  poor 
creatures  ?' '  asked  Christine. 


ON    THE   BEACH  403 

"No,  Miss  Ludolph,  I  do  not  know  how  long  we  may  be 
kept  here;  but  I  fear  we  shall  suffer  as  much  from  cold  as 
from  heat,  and  your  life  might  depend  upon  keeping  warm. " 

"I  will  do  whatever  you  bid  me,"  she  said,  looking  grate- 
fully at  him. 

"That  is  the  way  to  feel  and  act  toward  God,"  he  said, 
gently. 

But  with  sudden  impetuosity  she  answered:  "I  cannot 
see  what  He  has  just  permitted  to  happen  before  my  eyes. 
Eight  has  not  triumphed,  but  the  foulest  wrong." 

"You  do  not  see  the  end,  Miss  Ludolph." 

"But  I  must  judge  from  what  I  see." 

After  she  had  bathed  the  poor  girl's  face,  comforted  and 
reassured  her,  Dennis  took  up  the  conversation  again  and 
found  Christine  eager  to  listen.  Pausing  every  few  moments 
to  throw  water  over  his  companion,  he  said:  "Faith  is  be- 
yond reason,  beyond  knowledge,  though  not  contrary  to 
them.  You  are  judging  as  we  do  not  judge  about  the  com- 
monest affairs — from  a  few  isolated,  mysterious  facts,  in- 
stead of  carefully  looking  the  subject  all  over.  You  pass 
by  what  is  plain  and  well  understood  to  what  is  obscure, 
and  from  that  point  seek  to  understand  Christianity.  Every 
science  has  its  obscure  points  and  mysteries,  but  who  begins 
with  those  to  learn  the  science  ?  Can  you  ignore  the  fact 
that  millions  of  highly  intelligent  people,  with  every  motive 
to  know  the  truth,  have  satisfied  themselves  as  to  the  reality 
of  our  faith  ?  Our  Bible  system  of  truth  may  contain  much 
that  is  obscure,  even  as  the  starry  vault  has  distances  that 
no  eye  or  telescope  can  penetrate,  and  as  this  little  earth 
has  mysteries  that  science  cannot  solve,  but  there  is  enough 
known  and  understood  to  satisfy  us  perfectly.  Let  me  as- 
sure you,  Miss  Ludolph,  that  Christianity  rests  on  broad 
truths,  and  is  sustained  by  arguments  that  no  candid  mind 
can  resist  after  patiently  considering  them. ' ' 

She  shook  her  head,  silenced  perhaps,  but  not  satisfied. 


404  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  XLV 


THE  day  was  now  declining,  and  the  fire  in  that  part 
of  the  city  opposite  them  had  so  spent  itself  that 
they  were  beginning  to  have  a  little  respite  from 
immediate  danger.  The  fiery  storm  of  sparks  and  cinders 
was  falling  mostly  to  the  northward. 

Dennis  now  ventured  to  sit  down  almost  for  the  first 
time,  for  he  was  wearied  beyond  endurance.  The  tremen- 
dous danger  and  excitements,  and  the  consciousness  of  peril 
to  the  one  most  dear  to  him,  had  kept  him  alert  long  after 
he  ought  to  have  had  rest,  but  overtaxed  nature  now  as- 
serted its  rights,  and  the  moment  the  sharp  spur  of  danger 
was  removed  he  was  overpowered  by  sleep. 

Christine  spoke  to  him  as  he  sat  near,  but  even  to  her 
(a  thing  he  could  not  have  imagined  possible)  he  returned 
an  incoherent  reply. 

4 'My  poor  friend,  you  do  indeed  need  rest,7'  said  she,  in 
kindest  accents. 

He  heard  her  voice  like  a  sweet  and  distant  harmony 
in  a  dream,  swayed  a  moment,  and  would  have  fallen  over 
in  utter  unconsciousness  on  the  sands,  had  she  not  glided  to 
his  side  and  caught  his  head  upon  her  lap. 

In  the  heavy  stupor  that  follows  the  utmost  exhaustion, 
Dennis  slept  hour  after  hour.  The  rest  of  the  day  was  a 
perfect  blank  to  him.  But  Christine,  partially  covering 
and  shading  his  face  with  the  edge  of  her  shawl,  bent  over 
him  as  patient  in  watching  as  he  had  been  brave  in  her 
deliverance.  It  was  beautiful  to  see  the  features  once  so 
cold  and  haughty,  now  sweet  with  more  than  womanly 


CHRISTINE    A    CHRISTIAN  405 

tenderness.  There  upon  that  desolate  beach,  cold,  hungry, 
homeless,  shelterless,  she  was  happier  than  she  had  been 
for  months.  But  she  trembled  as  she  thought  of  the  future; 
everything  was  so  uncertain.  She  seemed  involved  in  a 
labyrinth  of  dangers  and  difficulties  from  which  she  could 
see  no  escape.  She  knew  that  both  store  and  home  had 
gone,  and  probably  most,  if  not  all,  of  her  father's  fortune. 
She  felt  that  these  losses  might  greatly  modify  his  plans, 
and  really  hoped  that  they  would  lead  him  to  remain  in 
this  country.  She  felt  almost  sure  that  he  would  not  go 
back  to  Germany  a  poor  man,  and  to  remain  in  America 
was  to  give  her  a  chance  of  happiness,  and  happiness  now 
meant  life  with  him  over  whom  she  bent.  For  a  long  time 
she  had  felt  that  she  could  give  up  all  the  world  for  him, 
but  now  existence  would  scarcely  be  endurable  without 
him.  In  proportion  to  the  slowness  with  which  her  love 
had  been  kindled  was  its  intensity — the  steady,  concentrated 
passion  of  a  strong,  resolute  nature,  for  the  first  time  fully 
aroused.  All  indecision  passed  from  her  mind,  and  she  was 
ready  to  respond  whenever  he  should  speak;  but  woman's 
silence  sealed  her  lips,  and  more  than  maiden  delicacy 
masked  her  heart.  While  she  bent  over  him  with  an  ex- 
pression that,  had  he  opened  his  eyes,  might  have  caused 
him  to  imagine  for  a  moment  that  his  sleep  had  been  death, 
and  he  had  wakened  in  heaven,  yet  he  must  needs  awake 
to  find  that  the  look  and  manner  of  earth  had  returned. 
Her  sensitive  pride  made  her  guarded  even  in  expressing 
her  gratitude,  and  she  purposed  to  slip  his  head  off  upon 
her  shawl  whenever  he  showed  signs  of  awakening,  so  that 
he  might  believe  that  the  earth  only  had  been  his  resting- 
place. 

But  now  in  his  unconsciousness,  and  unnoted  by  all 
around,  indeed  more  completely  isolated  by  the  universal 
misery  and  apathy  about  her  than  she  could  have  been  in 
her  own  home,  with  a  delicious  sense  of  security,  she  bent 
her  eyes  upon  him,  and  toyed  daintily  with  the  curling 
locks  on  his  brow.  Whatever  the  future  might  be,  nothing 


406  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

should  rob  her  of  the  strange,  unexpected  happiness  of  this 
opportunity  to  be  near  him,  purchased  at  such  cost. 

As  she  sat  there  and  saw  the  fire  rush  and  roar  away  to 
the  northward,  and  the  sun  decline  over  the  ruins  of  her 
earthly  fortune,  she  thought  more  deeply  and  earnestly  of 
life  than  ever  before.  The  long,  heavy  sleep  induced  by 
the  opiate  had  now  taken  away  all  sense  of  drowsiness, 
and  never  had  her  mind  been  clearer.  In  the  light  of  the 
terrible  conflagration  many  things  stood  out  with  a  distinct- 
ness that  impressed  her  as  nothing  had  ever  done  before. 
Wealth  and  rank  had  shrivelled  to  their  true  proportions, 
and  she  said,  half  aloud:  — 

"That  which  can  vanish  in  a  night  in  flame  and  smoke 
cannot  belong  to  us,  is  not  a  part  of  us.  All  that  has  come 
out  of  the  crucible  of  this  fire  is  my  character,  myself.  It 
is  the  same  with  Mr.  Fleet;  but  comparing  his  character 
with  mine,  how  much  richer  he  is!  What  if  there  is  a 
future  life,  and  we  enter  into  it  with  no  other  possession 
than  our  character  ?  and  that  which  is  called  soul  or  spirit 
is  driven  forth  from  earth  and  the  body  as  we  have  just 
been  from  our  wealth  and  homes  ?  I  can  no  longer  coolly 
and  contemptuously  ignore  as  superstition  what  he  be- 
lieves. He  is  not  superstitious,  but  calm,  fearless,  and 
seemingly  assured  of  something  that  as  yet  I  cannot  under- 
stand. One  would  think  that  there  must  be  reality  in  his 
belief,  for  it  sustains  him  and  others  in  the  greatest  of 
trials.  The  hymn  he  sang  was  like  a  magnet  introduced 
among  steel  filings  mingled  with  this  sand.  The  mere  earth 
cannot  move,  but  the  steel  is  instinct  with  life.  So,  while 
many  of  us  could  not  respond,  others  seemed  inspired  at 
the  name  of  Jesus  with  new  hope  and  courage,  and  cried 
to  the  Nazarene  as  if  He  could  hear  them.  Why  don't 
people  cry  for  help  to  other  good  men  who  lived  in  the 
dim  past,  and  whose  lives  and  deeds  are  half  myth  and  half 
truth  ?  why  to  this  one  man  only  ?  for  educated  Catholics 
no  longer  pray  to  the  saints." 

Then  her  thoughts  reverted  to  Mr.  Ludolph. 


CHRISTINE   A    CHRISTIAN  407 

"Poor  father!"  said  she;  "how  will  he  endure  these 
changes?  We  have  not  felt  and  acted  toward  each  other 
as  we  ought.  He  is  now  probably  anxious  beyond  measure, 
fearing  that  I  perished  in  my  sleep,  and  so  I  should  have 
done,  had  it  not  been  for  this  more  than  friend  that  I  have 
so  wronged.  Oh,  that  I  could  make  amends  I  I  wonder — 
oh,  I  wonder  if  he  has  any  spark  of  love  left  for  me  ?  He 
seems  kind,  even  tender,  but  he  is  so  to  every  one — he 
saved  Miss  Brown-—" 

But  here  a  most  violent  interruption  took  place.  Chris- 
tine, in  the  complete  absorption  of  her  thoughts,  had  not 
noticed  that  a  group  of  rough  men  and  women  near  by,  who 
had  been  drinking  all  day,  had  now  become  intoxicated 
and  violent.  They  were  pushing  and  staggering,  howling 
and  fighting,  in  reckless  disregard  of  the  comfort  of  oth- 
ers, and  before  she  knew  it  she  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
drunken  brawl.  One  rough  fellow  struck  against  her,  and 
another  trod  on  Dennis,  who  started  up  with  a  cry  of  pain. 
In  a  moment  he  comprehended  the  situation,  and,  snatching 
up  Christine  and  the  shawl,  he  pushed  his  way  out  of  the 
melee  with  his  right  arm,  the  wretches  striking  at  him  and 
one  another  aimlessly  in  their  fury;  while  both  men  and 
women  used  language  that  was  worse  than  their  blows. 
After  a  brief  struggle,  Dennis  and  Christine  extricated 
themselves,  and  made  their  way  northward  up  the  beach 
till  they  found  a  place  where  the  people  seemed  quiet. 

Dennis's  sudden  awakening  had  revealed  to  him  that  his 
head  had  been  pillowed,  and  it  seemed  such  a  kind  and 
thoughtful  act  on  Christine's  part  that  he  could  scarcely 
believe  it;  at  the  same  time  he  was  full  of  shame  and  self- 
reproach  that  by  his  sleep  he  had  left  her  unguarded,  and 
he  said:  "Miss  Ludolph,  I  hope  you  will  pardon  you  recre- 
ant knight,  who  slept  while  you  were  in  danger;  but  really 
1  could  not  help  it. ' ' 

"It  is  I  who  must  ask  pardon,"  replied  Christine, 
warmly.  "After  your  superhuman  exertions,  your  very 
life  depended  on  rest.  But  I  made  a  wretched  watcher 


408  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

— indeed  I  have  lost  confidence  in  myself  every  way.  To 
tell  the  truth,  Mr.  Fleet,  I  was  lost  in  thought,  and  with 
your  permission  I  would  like  to  ask  you  further  about  two 
things  you  said  this  morning.  You  asserted  that  you  knew 
God  loved  you,  and  that  Christianity  was  sustained  by  argu- 
ments that  no  candid  mind  could  resist.  What  are  those 
arguments  ?  and  how  can  you  know  such  a  comforting  thing 
as  the  love  of  God  ?' ' 

His  eyes  lighted  up  in  his  intense  delight  that  she  should 
again  voluntarily  recur  to  this  subject,  and  he  hoped  that 
God  was  leading  her  to  a  knowledge  of  Him,  and  that  he, 
in  answer  to  his  own  and  his  mother's  prayers,  might  be 
partially  instrumental  in  bringing  the  light.  Therefore  he 
said,  earnestly:  "Miss  Ludolph,  this  is  scarcely  the  time 
and  place  to  go  over  the  evidences  of  Christianity.  When 
in  happy  security  i  hope  you  may  do  this  at  your  leisure, 
and  am  sure  you  will  be  convinced,  for  I  believe  that  you 
honestly  wish  the  truth.  But  there  is  no  need  that  you 
should  wait  and  look  forward  into  the  uncertain  future 
for  this  priceless  knowledge.  The  father  will  not  keep  his 
child  waiting  who  tries  to  find  him.  God  is  not  far  from 
any  one  of  us.  When  our  Lord  was  on  earth,  He  never 
repulsed  those  who  sought  Him  in  sincerity,  and  He  is  the 
true  manifestation  of  God. 

"Moreover,"  he  continued,  reverently,  "God  is  now  on 
earth  as  truly  as  when  Christ  walked  the  waves  of  Galilee, 
or  stood  with  the  life-giving  word  upon  His  lips  at  the 
grave  of  His  friend  Lazarus.  The  mighty  Spirit  of  God 
now  dwells  among  men  to  persuade,  help,  and  lead  them 
into  all  truth,  and  I  believe  He  is  guiding  you.  This  Di- 
vine Spirit  can  act  as  directly  on  your  mind  as  did  Christ's 
healing  hand  when  He  touched  blind  eyes  and  they  saw, 
and  palsied  bodies  and  they  sprung  into  joyous  activity." 

Under  his  eager,  earnest  words,  Christine's  eyes  also 
lighted  up  with  hope,  but  after  a  moment  her  face  became 
very  sad,  and  she  said,  wearily,  "Mystery!  mystery!  you 
are  speaking  a  language  that  I  do  not  understand. ' ' 


CHRISTINE   A    CHRISTIAN  409 

"Can  you.  not  understand  this:  'For  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life'?  and  that  the  Bible  tells  us  that  His  Son  did,  in  very 
truth,  die  that  we  might  live  ?" 

"Yes,  yes,  I  know  that  the  Bible  seems  to  teach  all  that, 
but  there  must  be  some  mistake  about  it.  Why  should  an 
all-powerful  God  take  such  a  costly,  indirect  way  of  accom- 
plishing His  purpose  when  a  word  would  suffice  ?" 

"We  will  not  discuss  God's  reasons;  I  think  they  are 
beyond  us.  But  imagining  the  Bible  story  to  be  true,  even 
though  you  do  not  believe  it,  is  not  the  love  of  God  revealed 
to  us  through  His  son,  Jesus  Christ?" 

"Yes,  it  is  the  very  extravagance  of  disinterested  love. 
So  much  so  that  my  reason  revolts  at  it.  It  is  contrary 
to  all  my  ideas  of  Deity  and  power." 

"Pardon  me,  Miss  Ludolph,  for  saying  it,  but  I  think 
your  ideas  of  Deity  are  borrowed  more  from  mythology 
and  human  greatness  than  from  the  Bible.  Let  your  reason 
stand  aside  a  moment ;  this  is  not  contrary  to  it,  but  beyond 
it.  Imagining  the  Bible  story  true,  can  you  not  wish  it 
true  ?  If  the  man  who  died  on  Calvary  out  of  love  for  you 
and  for  us  all  is  also  God,  would  you  fear  to  trust  yourself 
to  Him?  Could  you  distrust  One  who  loved  you  well 
enough  to  die  for  you  ?' ' 

"No!  no,  indeed!  if  I  only  could  believe  it,  no!  But 
how  can  I  ever  be  sure  it  is  true  ?  I  am  sure  of  nothing. 
I  am  not  sure  there  is  a  God.  I  am  not  sure  the  Bible  is 
more  than  human  in  its  character.  I  feel  as  if  my  feet  stood 
out  upon  those  shifting  waves,  and  as  if  there  were  nothing 
certain  or  stable." 

"But  in  part  you  know  the  truth,  Miss  Ludolph,  though 
you  do  not  believe  it,  and  I  believe  that  the  God  of  whom 
we  have  spoken  can  directly  reveal  Himself  to  you  and  make 
His  truth  as  real  to  you  as  it  is  to  me. ' ' 

"Mr.  Fleet,"  cried  Christine,  "if  I  could  believe  as  you 
do,  I  should  be  the  happiest  of  the  happy,  for  I  should  feel 

ROE— Y— is 


410  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

that,  however  much  I  suffered  in  this  brief  life,  in  the  ex- 
istence beyond  I  should  be  more  than  compensated;"  and 
covering  her  tearful  face  with  her  hands  she  moaned,  as 
if  it  were  wrung  from  her,  "I  have  suffered  so  much,  and 
there  seemed  no  remedy!" 

Dennis's  feelings  were  also  deeply  touched,  and  the  dew 
of  sympathy  gathered  in  his  own  eyes.  In  the  gentlest 
accents  he  said,  "Oh,  that  you  could  trust  that  merciful, 
mighty  One  who  invites  all  the  heavy  laden  to  come  to  Him 
for  rest!" 

She  looked  up  and  saw  his  sympathy,  and  was  greatly 
moved.  In  faltering  tones  she  said:  "You  feel  for  me,  Mr. 
Fleet.  You  do  not  condemn  me  in  my  blindness  and  un- 
belief. I  cannot  trust  Him,  because  I  am  not  sure  He 
exists.  If  there  was  such  a  God  I  would  gladly  devote  my 
whole  being  to  Him;  but  I  trust  yo u,  and  will  do  anything 
you  say." 

"Will  you  kneel  on  these  sands  with  me  in  prayer 
to  Him  ?' '  he  asked,  earnestly. 

She  hesitated,  trembled,  but  at  last  said,  "Yes." 

He  took  her  hand  as  if  they  were  brother  and  sister,  and 
they  kneeled  together  on  the  desolate  beach.  The  glow  of 
sunset  was  lost  in  the  redder  glow  of  the  fire  that  smoul- 
dered all  over  the  ruins,  and  still  raged  in  the  northwest, 
and  the  smoke  and  gathering  gloom  involved  them  in 
obscurity. 

Though  the  weary,  apathetic  fugitives  regarded  them 
not,  we  believe  that  angelic  forms  gathered  round,  and  that 
the  heart  of  the  Divine  Father  yearned  toward  His  children. 

When  they  rose,  after  a  simple  prayer  from  Dennis,  in 
which  he  pleaded  almost  as  a  child  might  with  an  earthly 
father,  Christine  trembled  like  a  leaf,  and  was  very  pale, 
but  her  face  grew  tearless,  quiet,  and  very  sad.  Dennis 
still  held  her  hand  in  the  warm,  strong  grasp  of  sympathy. 
Gently  she  withdrew  it,  and  said,  in  a  low,  despairing  tone: 
"It  is  all  in  vain.  There  is  no  answer.  Your  voice  has 
been  lost  in  the  winds  and  waves." 


CHRISTINE   A    CHRISTIAN  411 

"Wait  the  King's  time,"  said  he,  reverently. 

"You  addressed  him  as  Father.  Would  a  good  father 
keep  his  child  waiting?" 

"Yes,  sometimes  He  does;  He  is  also  King." 

After  a  moment  she  turned  to  him  the  saddest  face  he 
ever  looked  upon,  and  said,  gently,  again  giving  him  her 
hand,  "Mr.  Fleet,  you  have  done  your  best  for  me,  and 
1  thank  you  all  the  same." 

He  was  obliged  to  turn  away  to  hide  his  feelings.  Si- 
lently they  again  sat  down  on  the  beach  together.  Weari- 
ness and  something  like  despair  began  to  tell  on  Christine, 
and  Dennis  trembled  when  he  thought  of  the  long  night  of 
exposure  before  her.  He  bent  his  face  into  his  hands  and 
prayed  as  he  had  never  prayed  before.  She  looked  at  him 
wistfully,  and  knew  he  was  pleading  for  her;  but  she  now 
believed  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  feeling  grew  upon  her  that 
belief  or  unbelief  was  a  matter  of  education  and  tempera- 
ment, and  that  the  feelings  of  which  Dennis  spoke  were  but 
the  deceptive  emotions  of  our  agitated  hearts.  To  that  de- 
gree that  the  Divine  love  seemed  visionary  and  hopeless, 
she  longed  for  him  to  speak  of  his  own,  if  in  truth  it  still 
existed,  that  she  could  understand  and  believe  in.  If  dur- 
ing what  remained  of  life  she  could  only  drink  the  sweet- 
ness of  that,  she  felt  it  was  the  best  she  could  hope  for — and 
then  the  blank  of  nothingness. 

But  he  prayed  on,  and  with  something  of  his  mother's 
faith  seemed  at  last,  as  it  were,  in  the  personal  presence  of 
Christ.  With  an  importunity  that  would  not  be  denied,  he 
entreated  for  her  who  despaired  at  his  side. 

At  last,  putting  her  hand  lightly  on  his  arm,  she  said: 
"Mr.  Fleet,  waste  no  more  time  on  me.  From  the  groans 
I  hear,  some  poor  woman  is  sick  or  hurt.  Perhaps  you  can 
do  some  real  good  by  seeing  to  her  needs." 

He  rose  quietly,  feeling  that  in  some  way  God  would 
answer,  and  that  he  must  patiently  wait. 

Going  up  the  beach  a  short  distance  he  found  a  German 
woman  lying  just  on  the  edge  of  the  water.  In  answer  to 


412  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

his  questions,  he  learned  from  her  broken  English  that  she 
was  sick  and  in  pain.  A  sudden  thought  struck  him.  In 
seeking  to  help  another,  might  not  Christine  find  help  her- 
self, and  in  the  performance  of  a  good  deed,  might  not  the 
Author  of  all  good  reveal  Himself  ?  Returning  to  her,  he 
said:  "Miss  Ludolph,  the  poor  woman  you  have  heard  is 
sick  and  alone.  She  is  German,  and  you  can  speak  to  her 
and  comfort  her  as  only  a  woman  can." 

Christine  went  at  once,  though  with  little  confidence  in 
her  powers.  Indeed  it  was,  perhaps,  the  first  visit  of  char- 
ity and  mercy  she  had  ever  made.  But  she  would  have 
done  anything  he  asked,  and  determined  to  do  her  best. 
She  helped  the  poor  creature  further  up  from  the  water, 
and  then,  taking  her  hands,  spoke  to  her  soothingly  and 
gently  in  her  native  tongue. 

"Heaven  and  all  the  angels  bless  your  sweet  face  for 
taking  pity  on  a  poor  lone  body,  and  so  they  will  too," 
is  the  free  rendering  of  her  grateful  German. 

"Would  you  please  say  a  little  prayer  for  a  lone,  sick 
body  ?' '  she  asked,  after  a  little  while. 

Christine  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  thought:  "Why 
not?  if  it  will  be  of  any  comfort  to  the  poor  thing.  It  can 
do  neither  of  us  harm." 

Dennis  saw  her  kneel  at  the  woman's  side,  lift  her  white 
face  to  heaven,  and  her  lips  move.  Her  attitude  was  unmis- 
takably that  of  prayer.  He  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes. 

Her  petition  was  brief  and  characteristic:  "0  God — if 
there  is  a  God— help  this  poor  creature!" 

Then  Dennis  saw  her  start  up  and  glance  around  in 
a  strange,  bewildered  manner.  Suddenly  she  clasped  her 
hands  and  looked  up  with  an  ecstatic,  thrilling  cry:  "There 
is!  there  is!  God  lives  and  loves  me,  I  feel,  I  know,  and 
therefore  I  may  hope  and  live. "  Turning  to  the  still  raging 
flames,  she  exclaimed:  "Burn  on  with  your  fiery  billows, 
I  do  not  fear  you  now !  I  am  safe,  safe  forever !  Oh,  how 
can  I  ever  love  and  praise  Thee  enough!" 

Then,   springing  to  Dennis's  side,   she  took  both  his 


CHRISTINE   A    CHRISTIAN  413 

hands  in  hers,  and  said:  "Mr.  Fleet,  you  have  saved  my 
life  again  and  again,  and  I  am,  oh,  how  grateful  1  but  in 
leading  me  to  this  knowledge  you  have  made  me  your 
debtor  for  evermore.  God  does  live,  and  I  believe  now 
He  loves  even  me." 

As  the  glare  of  the  fire  fell  on  her  face,  he  was  awed 
and  speechless  at  its  expression.  From  its  ecstatic  joy  and 
purity  it  seemed  that  the  light  of  heaven,  instead  of  her 
burning  home,  was  illumining  it. 

At  last  he  said,  brokenly,  "Thank  God!  thank  God! 
my  many,  many  prayers  are  answered!7' 

The  look  of  love  and  gratitude  she  gave  him  will  only 
find  its  counterpart  in  heaven,  when  the  saved  beam  upon 
those  who  led  them  to  the  Saviour.  The  whole  of  her 
strong  womanly  soul,  thoroughly  aroused,  was  in  her  face, 
and  it  shone  like  that  of  an  angel. 

To  Dennis,  with  the  force  of  fulfilled  prophecy,  recurred 
his  mother's  words,  and  unconsciously  he  spoke  them  aloud: 

UPBAYER  IS  MIGHTY." 


BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  XL  VI 

CHRISTINE'S    GRAVE 

AFTER  a  moment  Christine  returned  to  her  charge 
and  said,  gently,  "I  think  I  can  take  better  care 
of  you.  now." 

The  poor  woman  looked  at  her  in  a  bewildered  way,  half 
fearing  she  had  lost  her  senses.  But  there  was  that  in  Chris- 
tine's tone  and  manner  now  that  went  like  sunlight  and 
warmth  to  the  heart,  and  in  broadest  German  the  grateful 
creature  was  soon  blessing  her  again  and  again,  and  Chris- 
tine felt  that  she  was  blessed  beyond  even  her  wildest 
dreams. 

Dennis  now  felt  that  she  must  have  food  and  rest.  She 
appeared,  in  the  ghostly  light  of  the  distant  flames,  so  pale 
and  spirit- like,  that  he  almost  feared  she  would  slip  away  to 
heaven  at  once,  and  he  began  looking  for  some  one  stronger, 
older,  and  more  suitable,  to  take  her  place.  At  a  little  dis- 
tance further  north  he  at  last  found  a  stout  German  woman 
sitting  with  her  two  children  on  a  large  feather  bed,  the  sole 
relic  of  her  household  goods.  Dennis  acquainted  her  with 
the  case,  and  she  soon  took  the  matter  out  of  his  and  Chris- 
tine's hands  in  a  very  satisfactory  way. 

To  the  south  and  west  opportunity  of  escape  was  utterly 
cut  off;  eastward  were  the  waters  of  the  lake,  so  that  their 
only  chance  was  to  push  northward.  After  making  their 
way  slowly  for  a  short  distance  among  the  thickly  scattered 
groups  and  the  varied  articles  that  had  been  dragged  to  the 
shore  for  safety,  Dennis  thought  he  heard  a  familiar  voice. 

"Dr.  Arten!'    he  cried 


CHRISTINE'S    GRAVE  415 

4 'Hallo!  who  wants  me  ?"  answered  the  good  old  phy- 
sician, bustling  up  in  rather  incongruous  costume,  consist- 
ing of  a  dress  coat,  white  vest,  red  flannel  drawers,  and  a 
very  soiled  pair  of  slippers. 

"Oh,  doctor!  the  very  sight  of  you  inspires  hope  and 
courage." 

"Surely  a  young  fellow  like  you  can  be  m  no  want  of 
those  articles?" 

"If  he  is  lacking,"  cried  Christine,  "it  must  be  for  the 
reason  that  he  has  given  hope  and  courage  to  every  one  he 
has  met,  and  so  has  robbed  himself." 

"Heigho!"  exclaimed  the  doctor,  "you  here?" 

11  Yes,  thanks  to  the  heroism  of  Mr.  Fleet." 

"Fleet,  is  that  all  you  have  saved  from  the  fire?"  asked 
the  doctor,  with  a  humorous  twinkle,  pointing  to  Christine. 

"I  am  well  satisfied,"  said  Dennis,  quietly,  but  with  ris- 
ing color. 

"I  should  have  perished,  had  not  Mr.  Fleet  come  to  my 
rescue,"  continued  Christine,  warmly,  glad  of  an  opportu- 
nity to  express  a  little  of  her  gratitude. 

The  doctor  turned  his  genial,  humorous  eye  on  her  and 
said:  "Don't  be  too  grateful,  Miss  Ludolph;  he  is  a  young 
man,  and  only  did  his  duty.  Now  if  I  had  been  so  fortu- 
nate you  might  have  been  as  grateful  as  you  pleased." 

It  was  Christine's  turn  to  grow  rather,  rosier  than  even 
the  red  fire  warranted,  but  she  said,  "You  would  have  your 
joke,  doctor,  if  the  world  were  burning  up." 

1 1  Yes,  and  after  it  burned  up, ' '  he  replied.  * '  What  do  you 
think  of  that,  Miss  Ludolph,  with  your  German  scepticism?" 

Tears  came  in  Christine's  eyes,  and  she  said,  in  a  low 
tone,  "I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  have  lost  my  German  scep- 
ticism in  the  fire  also." 

"What!"  cried  the  doctor,  seizing  both  her  hands  in  his 
hearty  way.  "Will  you  accept  of  our  Christian  supersti- 
tion?" 

"I  think  I  have  accepted  your  glorious  Christian  truth, 
and  the  thought  makes  me  very  happy." 


416  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

"Well,  now  I  can  almost  say,  Praise  God  for  the  fire, 
though  old  Dr.  Arten  must  commence  again  where  the 
youngsters  are  who  kick  up  their  heels  in  their  office  all 
day." 

With  professional  instinct  he  slipped  his  finger  on 
Christine's  pulse,  then  rummaged  in  his  pocket  and  soon 
drew  out  some  powders,  and  in  his  brusque  way  made  her 
take  one. 

"Oh,  how  bitter!"  she  exclaimed. 

"That  is  the  way  the  ladies  treat  me,"  began  the  merry 
bachelor:  "not  an  ounce  of  gratitude  when  I  save  their 
lives.  But  let  a  young  fellow  like  Fleet  come  along  and 
get  them  out  of  danger  by  mere  brute  strength,  instead  of 
my  delicate,  skilful  way,  and  language  breaks  down  with 
their  thanks.  Very  well,  I  shall  have  compensation — I 
shall  present  my  bill  before  long.  And  now,  young  man, 
since  you  have  set  out  to  rescue  my  little  friend  here,  you 
had  better  carry  the  matter  through,  for  several  reasons 
which  1  need  not  urge.  Your  best  chance  is  to  make  your 
way  northward,  and  then  continue  around  the  west,  where 
you  can  find  food  and  shelter;"  and  with  a  hearty  grasp  of 
the  hand,  the  brave,  genial  old  man  wished  them  "God 
speed !' ' 

Dennis  told  him  of  the  poor  German  woman,  and  then 
pushed  on  in  the  direction  indicated.  But  Christine  was 
growing  weak  and  exhausted.  At  last  they  reached  the 
Catholic  cemetery.  It  was  crowded  with  fugitives  and 
the  fire  to  the  northwest  still  cut  off  all  escape,  even  if 
Christine's  strength  had  permitted  further  exertion.  It 
was  now  approaching  midnight,  and  she  said,  wearily: 
"Mr.  Fleet,  I  am  very  sorry,  but  I  fear  I  cannot  take  an- 
other step.  The  powder  Dr.  Arten  gave  me  strengthened 
me  for  a  time,  but  its  effect  is  passing  away,  and  I  feel  al- 
most paralyzed  with  fatigue.  I  am  not  afraid  to  stay  here, 
or  indeed  anywhere  now." 

"It  seems  a  very  hard  necessity  that  you  should  have  to 
.remain  in  such  a  place,  Miss  Ludolph,  but  I  see  no  help  for 


CHRISTINE  JS    GRAVE  417 

it.     We  are  certainly  as  well  off  as  thousands  of  others,  and 
so  I  suppose  ought  not  to  complain." 

"I  feel  as  if  I  could  never  complain  again,  Mr.  Fleet.  I 
only  hope  my  father  is  as  safe  and  as  well  as  we  are.  I  can- 
not tell  you  how  my  heart  goes  out  toward  him  now  that  I 
see  everything  in  a  different  light.  I  have  not  been  a  true 
daughter,  and  I  do  long  to  make  amends.  He  surely  has 
escaped,  don't  you  think?" 

11  Mr.  Ludolph  was  possessed  of  unusual  sagacity  and 
prudence,"  said  Dennis,  evasively.  "What  any  man  could 
do,  he  could.  And  now,  Miss  Ludolph,  I  will  try  to  find 
you  a  resting-place.  There  are  such  crowds  here  that  I 
think  we  had  better  go  nearer  that  side,  where  early  in  the 
evening  the  fire  drove  people  away." 

The  cemetery  had  not  been  used  of  late  years,  and  many 
of  the  bodies  had  been  removed.  This  caused  excavations 
here  and  there,  and  one  of  these  from  which  the  gathered 
leaves  and  grass  had  been  burned,  Dennis  thought  might 
answer  for  Christine's  couch,  as  in  the  hollow  of  this  va- 
cant and  nearly  filled  grave  she  would  be  quite  sheltered 
from  the  wind,  and  the  sand  was  still  warm  from  the  effects 
of  the  fire.  To  his  surprise  she  made  no  objection. 

"I  am  so  weary  that  I  can  rest  anywhere,"  she  said, 
"and  a  grave  is  not  to  me  what  it  was  once." 

He  arranged  her  shawl  so  that  it  might  be  mattress,  pil- 
low, and  covering,  and  wrapped  her  up. 

"And  how  will  you  endure  the  long,  cold  hours,  my 
friend?"  she  asked,  looking  up  most  sympathetically. 

"Thanks  to  your  kindness,  I  had  such  a  good  sleep  this 
afternoon  that  I  feel  strong  and  rested, ' '  he  replied,  with  a 
smile. 

"I  fear  you  say  so  to  put  my  mind  at  rest;"  but  even  as 
she  spoke  her  eyes  closed  and  she  went  to  sleep  like  a  tired 
and  trusting  child.  As  with  Dennis  a  few  hours  before, 
the  limit  of  nature's  endurance  had  been  reached,  and  the 
wealthy,  high-born  Miss  Ludolph,  who  on  Sabbath  night 
had  slept  in  the  midst  of  artistic  elegance  and  luxury,  now, 


418  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

on  Monday  night,  rested  in  a  vacant  grave  under  the  open 
and  storm-gathering  sky.  Soon — to  be  accurate,  at  two 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday — rain  began  to  fall. 
But,  with  all  the  discomfort  it  brought,  never  had  rain 
been  more  welcome. 

Christine  shivered  in  her  sleep,  and  Dennis  looked 
around  vainly  for  some  additional  covering.  The  throng- 
ing fugitives  were  all  in  a  similar  plight,  and  their  only 
course  was  simply  to  endure  till  some  path  of  escape 
opened. 

The  night  was  indeed  a  long  one  to  him.  At  first  ex- 
citement and  happiness  kept  him  awake  and  unconscious 
of  time  and  discomfort.  But  he  soon  felt  how  weary  and 
hungry  he  was,  for  he  had  eaten  nothing  since  his  slight 
supper  on  Sabbath  evening.  The  heat  of  the  fire  percep- 
tibly lessened  as  the  rain  began  falling,  and  without  his  coat 
Dennis  was  soon  chilled  to  the  bone.  On  every  side  he 
heard  moans  of  discomfort,  and  he  knew  that  he  had  far 
more  reason  to  endure  patiently  than  many  near  him.  He 
tried  to  keep  himself  warm  by  walking  around,  but  at  last 
he  grew  too  weary  for  that,  and  sat,  a  patient,  cowering 
watcher,  at  the  head  of  Christine's  weird  couch,  listening 
sadly  at  times  to  the  pitiful  crying  of  little  children  and 
the  sighs  and  groans  of  older  sufferers. 

At  last  the  light  of  welcome  day  streaked  the  eastern 
horizon,  and  Christine  opened  her  eyes  in  a  bewildered 
way,  but,  on  seeing  him  swaying  backward  and  forward 
with  half -closed  eyes,  sprang  up  and  said,  "And  have  you 
sat  and  watched  there  all  the  long  night  ?' ' 

"I  hope  you  feel  rested  and  better,  Miss  Ludolph, "  he 
replied,  startled  from  drowsiness  by  her  voice. 

"It  has  been  raining,  too.  I  fear  you  are  wet  through. 
Oh,  how  much  you  must  have  suffered  on  my  account!" 

"I  imagine  you  are  as  wet  as  I  am,  Miss  Ludolph.  This 
has  been  a  very  democratic  experience  for  you.  We  are  all 
about  alike  in  this  strange  camping-ground." 

"No;  your  kindness  made  me  quite  comfortable.     In- 


CHRISTINE'S    GRAVE  419 

deed,  I  never  slept  better.  And  you,  without  any  coat 
or  shelter,  have  watched  patiently  hour  after  hour." 

"Well,  you  did  as  much  for  me  yesterday  afternoon,  so 
we  are  quits." 

"I  think  there  is  a  great  difference,"  she  said.  "And 
remember  what  a  watcher  I  made;  I  let  those  drunken 
creatures  run  over  you. ' ' 

"I  don't  see  how  you  could  have  helped  it,"  said  he, 
laughing.  "That  ycu  should  have  cared  for  me  as  you  did 
was  a  favor  that  I  never  expected,"  he  added,  blushing. 

She  blushed  too,  but  made  no  reply;  at  the  same  time 
she  was  vexed  with  herself  that  she  did  not.  Dennis,  with 
a  lover's  blindness,  misunderstood  her  silence,  and  thought 
that,  as  a  friend,  she  was  more  grateful  than  he  could  wish, 
but  he  must  speak  in  no  other  character. 

Then  he  remembered  that  it  would  be  dishonorable  to 
urge  his  suit  under  the  circumstances;  it  would  be  a  source 
of  inexpressible  pain  to  her,  with  her  strong  sense  of  obli- 
gation, to  put  aside  expressions  of  his  deeper  regard,  and 
he  resolved  to  avoid  if  possible  any  manifestations  of  his 
feelings.  While  she  was  dependent  upon  him  he  would 
act  the  part  of  a  brother  toward  her,  and  if  his  human 
love  could  never  find  its  consummation,  he  would  bear 
his  loss  as  patiently  as  possible.  But  in  spite  of  himself  a 
tinge  of  sadness  and  restraint  came  into  his  manner,  and 
Christine  sighed  to  herself,  "If  he  only  knew,  and  /  only 
knew,  just  the  truth,  how  much  happier  we  might  be!" 

There  was  a  general  movement  now  in  the  strangely  as- 
sorted multitude.  The  fire  had  swept  everything  away  so 
completely  on  the  north  side  that  there  were  not  hot  blazing 
ruins  to  prevent  crossing.  Accordingly  men  came  pouring 
over,  looking  for  their  families.  On  every  side  were  cries 
of  joy  on  recognition  of  those  whom  fear  and  terrible  fore- 
bodings had  buried  under  the  blackened  remains  of  once 
happy  homes.  But  mingled  with  exclamations  of  joy  were 
sobs  and  wails  of  anguish,  as  some  now  realized  in  the  lapsing 
hours  that  absent  members  of  the  household  were  lost. 


420  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

Christine  looked  in  vain  for  her  father;  at  last  Dennis 
said:  "Miss  Ludolph,  do  you  feel  equal  to  the  effort  of 
crossing  to  the  west  side  ?  You  must  be  faint  with  hunger, 
and  there  only  can  we  hope  for  help." 

"Oh,  yes!  let  us  go  at  once,  for  your  sake  as  well  as 
mine;"  for  she  saw  that  his  long  fasting  and  great  fatigue 
had  made  him  very  haggard. 

They  urged  their  way  across  the  burned  district  as  fast 
as  their  exhausted  state  would  permit,  carefully  avoiding 
burning  brands  that  still  lay  in  the  street. 

"I  hope  you  will  have  patience  with  me  in  my  slow 
progress,"  said  Christine,  "for  I  feel  as  I  imagine  Kip  Van 
Winkle  must  have  done,  after  his  twenty  years'  nap." 

"I  think  you  have  borne  up  heroically,  Miss  Ludolph," 
said  Dennis,  warmly. 

"Oh,  no!  I  am  not  in  the  least  heroic,  but  I  confess  that 
I  am  very  hungry.  I  never  knew  what  hunger  was  before. 
Well,  I  can  now  appreciate  what  must  often  be  the  condi- 
tion of  the  poor,  and  hope  not  to  be  so  forgetful  of  them 
hereafter. ' ' 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that  you  are  hungry,  Miss 
Ludolph,  for  it  proves  that  with  care  you  will  rally  after 
this  dreadful  exposure,  and  be  your  former  self. ' ' 

"Ah!  Mr.  Fleet,  I  hope  I  shall  never  be  my  old  self 
again.  I  shudder  when  I  think  what  I  was  when  you 
awakened  me  that  dreadful  night." 

"But  I  have  feared,"  said  he,  ever  avoiding  any  refer- 
ence to  his  own  services,  "that,  though  you  might  escape 
the  fire,  the  exposure  would  be  greater  than  you  could  en- 
dure. I  trembled  for  you  last  night  when  it  began  to  rain, 
but  could  find  no  additional  covering. ' ' 

"No  brother  could  be  kinder  or  more  thoughtful  of  me," 
she  said,  turning  upon  him  a  glad,  grateful  face. 

"That  is  it,"  thought  Dennis.  "She  hints  to  me  what 
must  be  our  relationship.  She  is  the  Baroness  Ludolph, 
and  is  pledged  to  a  future  that  I  cannot  share." 

But  as  he  saw  her  gratitude,  he  resolved  all  the  more 


CHRISTINE'S    GRAVE  421 

resolutely  not  to  put  it  to  the  hard  test  of  refusing  his  love. 
A  little  later  he  unconsciously  sighed  wearily,  and  she 
looked  at  him  wistfully. 

"Oh,  that  I  knew  if  he  felt  toward  me  as  he  once  did!" 
she  said  to  herself. 

They  now  reached  the  unscathed  streets  of  the  west  side, 
which  were  already  thronged  with  fugitives  as  hungry  and 
gaunt  as  themselves.  Mingling  with  this  great  strange  tide 
of  weak,  begrimed,  hollow-eyed  humanity,  they  at  last 
reached  Dr.  Goodwin's  beautiful  church.  Here  already 
had  begun  the  noble  charity  dispensed  from  that  place 
during  the  days  of  want  and  suffering  that  followed. 


422  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTEE   XLVII 

SUSIE   WINTHROP 

WAITING  with  multitudes  of  others,  Christine  and 
Dennis  at  last  received  an  army  biscuit  (hard- 
tack in  the  soldier's  vernacular)  and  a  tin-cup  of 
what  resembled  coffee.  To  him  it  was  very  touching  to  see 
how  eagerly  she  received  this  coarse  fare,  proving  that  she 
was  indeed  almost  famished.  Too  weak  to  stand,  they  sat 
down  near  the  door  on  the  sidewalk.  A  kind  lady  presently 
came  and  said,  "If  you  have  no  place  to  go  you  will  find  it 
more  comfortable  in  the  church." 

They  gladly  availed  themselves  of  her  permission,  as  the 
thronged  street  was  anything  but  pleasant. 

"Mr.  Fleet,"  said  Christine,  "I  am  now  going  to  take 
care  of  you  in  return  for  your  care  last  night,"  and  she  led 
him  up  to  a  secluded  part  of  the  church  by  the  organ,  ar- 
ranged some  cushions  on  a  seat,  and  then  continued:  "As 
I  have  obeyed  you,  so  you  must  now  be  equally  docile. 
Don't  you  dare  move  from  that  place  till  I  call  you;"  and 
she  left  him. 

He  was  indeed  wearied  beyond  expression,  and  most 
grateful  for  a  chance  to  rest.  This  refuge  and  the  way  it 
was  secured  seemed  almost  a  heavenly  experience,  and  he 
thought  with  deepest  longing,  "If  we  could  always  take 
care  of  each  other,  I  should  be  perhaps  too  well  satisfied 
with  this  earthly  life. ' ' 

When  after  a  little  time  Christine  returned  he  was  sleep- 
ing as  heavily  as  he  had  done  before  upon  the  beach,  but 
the  smile  his  last  thought  occasioned  still  rested  on  his  face. 


SUSIE    WINTHEOP  423 

For  some  little  time  she  also  sat  near  and  rested,  and  her 
eyes  sought  his  face  as  if  a  story  were  written  there  that 
she  never  could  finish.  Then  she  went  to  make  inquiries 
after  her  father.  But  no  one  to  whom  she  spoke  knew  any- 
thing about  him. 

Bread  and  other  provisions  were  constantly  arriving,  but 
not  fast  enough  to  meet  the  needs  of  famishing  thousands. 
Though  not  feeling  very  strong  she  offered  her  services, 
and  was  soon  busily  engaged.  All  present  were  strangers 
to  her,  but,  when  they  learned  from  the  inquiries  for  her 
father  that  she  was  Miss  Ludolph,  she  was  treated  with 
deference  and  sympathy.  But  she  assumed  nothing,  and  as 
her  strength  permitted,  during  the  day,  she  was  ready  for 
any  task,  even  the  humblest.  She  handed  food  around 
among  the  hungry,  eager  applicants,  with  such  a  sweet  and 
pitying  face  that  she  heard  many  a  murmured  blessing. 
Her  efforts  were  all  the  more  appreciated  as  all  saw  that 
she  too  had  passed  through  the  fire  and  had  suffered 
deeply.  At  last  a  kind,  motherly  lady  said:  "My  dear, 
you  look  ready  to  drop.  Here,  take  this,"  and  she  poured 
out  a  glass  of  wine  and  gave  her  a  sandwich;  "now,  go  and 
find  some  quiet  nook  and  rest.  It's  your  duty." 

"I  have  a  friend  who  has  suffered  almost  everything  in 
saving  me.  He  is  asleep  now,  but  he  has  had  scarcely  any- 
thing to  eat  for  nearly  three  days,  and  I  know  he  will  be 
very  hungry  when  he  wakes." 

"Nothing  to  eat  for  three  days  I  "Why,  you  must  take 
him  a  whole  loaf,  and  this,  and  this,"  cried  the  good  lady, 
about  to  provision  Dennis  for  a  month. 

"Oh,  no,"  said  Christine,  with  a  smile,  "so  much  would 
not  be  good  for  him.  If  you  will  give  me  three  or  four 
sandwiches,  and  let  me  come  for  some  coffee  when  he 
wakes,  it  will  be  sufficient;"  and  she  carried  what  now 
seemed  treasures  to  where  Dennis  was  sleeping,  and  sat 
down  with  a  happy  look  in  her  face. 

The  day  had  been  full  of  sweet,  trustful  thoughts.  She 
was  conscious  of  a  presence  within  her  heart  and  all  around 


424  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

that  she  knew  was  Divine,  and  in  spite  of  her  anxiety  about 
her  father  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  future,  she  had  a  rest 
and  contentment  of  mind  that  she  had  never  experienced 
before.  Then  she  felt  such  a  genuine  sympathy  for  the 
sufferers  about  her,  and  found  them  so  grateful  when  she 
spoke  to  them  gently  and  kindly,  that  she  wondered  she  had 
never  before  discovered  the  joy  of  ministering  to  others. 
She  was  entering  a  new  world,  and,  though  there  might  be 
suffering  in  it,  the  antidote  was  ever  near,  and  the  pleasures 
promised  to  grow  richer,  fuller,  more  satisfying,  till  they 
developed  into  the  perfect  happiness  of  heaven.  But  every 
Christian  joy  that  was  like  a  sweet  surprise — every  thrilling 
hope  that  pointed  to  endless  progress  in  all  that  is  best  and 
noblest  in  life,  instead  of  the  sudden  blank  and  nothingness 
that  threatened  but  yesterday — and,  above  all,  the  animat- 
ing consciousness  of  the  Divine  love  which  kept  her  mur- 
muring, "My  Saviour,  my  good,  kind  Heavenly  Father," 
all  reminded  her  of  him  who  had  been  instrumental  in 
bringing  about  the  wondrous  change.  Often  during  the 
day  she  would  go  and  look  at  him,  and  could  Dennis  only 
have  opened  his  eyes  at  such  a  moment,  and  caught  her 
expression,  no  words  would  have  been  needed  to  assure 
him  of  his  happiness. 

The  low  afternoon  sun  shone  in  gold  and  crimson  on  his 
brow  and  face  through  the  stained  windows  before  he  gave 
signs  of  waking,  and  then  she  hurried  away  to  get  the 
coffee  hot  from  the  urn. 

She  had  hardly  gone  before  he  arose  greatly  refreshed 
and  strengthened,  but  so  famished  that  a  roast  ox  would 
have  seemed  but  a  comfortable  meal.  His  eye  at  once 
caught  the  sandwiches  placed  temptingly  near. 

"That  is  Miss  Ludolph's  work,"  he  said;  "I  wonder  if 
she  has  saved  any  for  herself. ' '  He  was  about  to  go  and 
seek  her  when  she  met  him  with  the  coffee. 

"Go  back,"  she  said;  "how  dare  you  disobey  orders?" 

"1  was  coming  to  find  you." 

"Well,  that  is  the  best  excuse  you  could  have  made,  but 


SUSIE    WINTHROP  425 

I  am  here;  so  sit  down  and  drink  this  coffee  and  devour 
these  sandwiches. ' ' 

11  Not  unless  you  share  them  with  me." 

1  'Insubordinate!  See  here,"  and  she  took  out  her  more 
dainty  provision  from  behind  a  seat  and  sat  down  opposite, 
in  such  a  pretty,  companionable  way  that  he  in  his  admira- 
tion and  pleasure  forgot  his  sandwiches. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  she  asked.  "You  are  to  eat  the 
sandwiches,  not  me. ' ' 

"A  very  proper  hint,  Miss  Ludolph;  one  might  well  be 
inclined  to  make  the  mistake." 

"Now  that  is  a  compliment  worthy  of  the  king  of  the 
Cannibal  Islands." 

"Miss  Ludolph,"  said  Dennis,  looking  at  her  earnestly, 
"you  do  indeed  seem  happy." 

A  ray  of  light  slanting  through  a  yellow  diamond  of 
glass  fell  with  a  sudden  glory  upon  her  face,  and  in  a  tone 
of  almost  ecstasy  she  said:  "Oh,  I  am  so  glad  and  grateful, 
when  I  realize  what  might  have  been,  and  what  is!  It 
seems  that  I  have  lost  so  little  in  this  fire  in  comparison 
with  what  I  have  gained.  And  but  for  you  I  might  have 
lost  everything.  How  rich  this  first  day  of  life,  real,  true 
life,  has  been!  My  Heavenly  Father  has  been  so  kind  to 
me  that  I  cannot  express  it.  And  then  to  think  how  I  have 
wronged  Him  all  these  years!" 

"You  have  indeed  learned  the  secret  of  true  eternal  hap- 
piness, Miss  Ludolph." 

"I  believe  it — I  feel  sure  of  it.  All  trouble,  all  pain  will 
one  day  pass  away  forever;  and  sometimes  1  feel  as  if  I  must 
sing  for  joy.  I  do  so  long  to  see  my  father  and  tell  him.  I 
fear  he  won't  believe  it  at  first,  but  I  can  pray  as  you  did, 
and  it  seems  as  if  my  Saviour  would  not  deny  me  anything. 
And  now,  Mr.  Fleet,  when  you  have  finished  your  lunch, 
I  am  going  to  ask  one  more  favor,  and  then  will  dub  you 
truest  knight  that  ever  served  defenceless  woman.  You 
will  find  my  father  for  me,  for  I  believe  you  can  do  any- 
thing." 


426  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Even  in  the  shadow  where  he  sat  she  caught  the  pained 
expression  of  his  face. 

She  started  up  and  grasped  his  arm. 

"You  know  something, "  she  said;  then  added:  "Do  not 
be  afraid  to  find  my  father  now.  When  he  knows  what 
services  you  have  rendered  me,  all  estrangement,  if  any 
existed,  will  pass  away." 

But  he  averted  Ms  face,  and  she  saw  tears  gathering 
in  his  eyes. 

"Mr.  Fleet,"  she  gasped,  "do  you  know  anything  I  do 
not?" 

He  could  hide  the  truth  no  longer.  Indeed  it  was  time 
she  should  learn  it.  Turning  and  taking  her  trembling 
hand,  he  looked  at  her  so  sadly  and  kindly  that  she  at 
once  knew  her  father  was  dead. 

"Oh,  my  father!"  she  cried,  in  a  tone  of  anguish  that 
he  could  never  forget,  "you  will  never,  never  know.  All 
day  I  have  been  longing  to  prove  to  you  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity by  my  loving,  patient  tenderness,  but  you  have  died, 
and  will  never  know, ' '  she  moaned,  shudderingly. 

He  still  held  her  hand — indeed  she  clung  to  his  as  to  some- 
thing that  might  help  sustain  her  in  the  dark,  bitter  hour. 

"Poor,  poor  father!"  she  cried;  "I  never  treated  him  as 
I  ought,  and  now  he  will  never  know  the  wealth  of  love  I 
was  hoping  to  lavish  on  him."  Then,  looking  at  Dennis 
almost  reproachfully,  she  said:  "Could  you  not  save  him? 
You  saved  so  many  others. ' ' 

"Indeed  I  could  not,  Miss  Ludolph;  I  tried,  and  nearly 
lost  my  life  in  the  effort.  The  great  hotel  behind  the  store 
fell  and  crushed  all  in  a  moment. ' ' 

She  shuddered,  but  at  last  whispered,  "Why  have  you 
kept  this  so  long  from  me?n 

"How  could  I  tell  you  when  the  blow  would  have  been 
death  ?  Even  now  you  can  scarcely  bear  it " 

"My  little  beginning  of  faith  is  sorely  tried.  Heavenly 
Spirit,"  she  cried,  "guide  me  through  this  darkness,  and 
let  not  doubt  and  unbelief  cloud  my  mind  again. ' ' 


SUSIE    W1NTBROP  427 

"Such  prayer  will  be  answered,"  said  Dennis,  in  a  deep, 
low  tone. 

They  sat  in  the  twilight  in  silence.  He  still  held  her 
hand,  and  she  was  sobbing  more  gently  and  quietly.  Sud- 
denly she  asked,  "Is  it  wrong  thus  to  grieve  over  the  break- 
ing of  an  earthly  tie  ?" 

"No,  not  if  you  will  say  as  did  your  Lord  in  His  agony, 
'Oh,  my  Father,  Thy  will  be  done.7  " 

"I  will  try,"  she  said,  softly,  "but  it  is  hard." 

"He  is  a  merciful  and  faithful  High  Priest.  For  in  that 
He  Himself  hath  suffered,  being  tempted,  He  is  able  to  suc- 
cor them  that  are  tempted. ' ' 

"Do  you  know  that  I  think  my  change  in  feeling  makes 
me  grieve  all  the  more  deeply  ?  Until  to-day  I  never  loved 
my  father  as  I  ought.  It  is  the  curse  of  unbelief  to  deaden 
everything  good  in  the  heart.  Oh,  I  do  feel  such  a  great, 
unspeakable  pity  for  him!" 

"Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth 
them  that  fear  Him. ' ' 

"Is  that  in  the  Bible  ?"  she  asked. 

"Yes." 

"It  is  very  sweet.  He  indeed  must  be  my  refuge  now, 
for  I  am  alone  in  the  world." 

"He  has  said,  'I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.7 
I  have  passed  through  this  sorrow  so  recently  myself  that 
I  can  sympathize  with  you  as  a  fellow-sufferer." 

"True,  true,  you  have,"  she  answered.  "Is 'that  the 
reason  that  Christ  suffered  with  us — that  we  might  know 
He  sympathized  with  us  ?' ' 

"Yes." 

"How  unspeakably  comforting  is  such  sympathy,  both 
human  and  divine !  Tell  me  about  your  mother. ' ' 

"I  fear  I  cannot  without  being  unmanned.  She  was  one 
of  Heaven's  favorites,  and  I  owe  everything  to  her.  I  can 
tell  you  one  thing,  though,  she  prayed  for  you  continu- 
ally—even with  her  dying  lips,  when  my  faith  had  broken 
down." 


428  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

This  touched  Christine  very  deeply.  At  last  she  said, 
"1  shall  see  her  some  day." 

"I  wish  you  had  seen  her,"  he  continued  very  sadly, 
looking  as  if  at  a  scene  far  away. 

"You  cannot  wish  it  more  than  I.  Indeed  I  would  have 
called  on  her,  had  it  not  been  for  an  unfortunate  accident." 

He  looked  at  her  with  some  surprise,  as  if  not  under- 
standing her  remark,  but  said,  "She  greatly  wished  to  see 
you  before  she  died." 

"Oh,  I  wish  I  had  known  it!" 

"Did  you  not  know  it?"  he  asked,  in  a  startled  manner. 

"No,  but  I  felt  grateful  to  her,  for  I  understood  that  she 
offered  to  take  care  of  me  in  case  I  had  the  smallpox.  I 
wanted  to  visit  her  very  much,  and  at  last  thought  I  would 
venture  to  do  so,  but  just  then  I  sprained  my  ankle.  I  sent 
my  maid  to  inquire,  but  fear  she  didn't  do  my  errand  very 
well,"  added  Christine,  looking  down. 

"She  never  came,  Miss  Ludolph."  Then  he  continued, 
eagerly:  "I  fear  I  have  done  you  a  great  wrong.  A  little 
time  before  my  mother  died,  she  wrote  you  a  line  saying 
that  she  was  dying  and  would  like  to  see  you.  I  did  not 
know  you  could  not  come — I  thought  you  would  not." 

Crimson  with  shame  and  humiliation,  Christine  buried 
her  burning  cheeks  in  her  hands  and  murmured,  "I  never 
received  it." 

"And  did  you  send  the  exquisite  flowers  and  fruit?" 
he  asked.  "Ah,  I  see  that  you  did.  I  am  so  glad — so  very 
glad  that  I  was  mistaken !  I  sincerely  ask  your  pardon  for 
my  unjust  thoughts." 

"It  is  I  who  should  ask  pardon,  and  for  a  long  time 
I  have  earnestly  wished  that  I  might  find  opportunity  to 
do  so.  My  conduct  has  been  simply  monstrous,  but  of  late 
it  has  seemed  worse  than  the  reality.  Everything  has  been 
against  me.  If  you  only  knew — but — "  (and  her  head 
bowed  lower).  Then  she  added,  hastily,  "My  maid  has 
been  false,  and  I  must  have  appeared  more  heartless  than 
ever. ' '  But,  with  biter  shame  and  sorrow,  she  remembered 


SUSIE    WINTHROP  429 

who  must  have  been  the  inspirer  of  the  treachery,  and, 
though  she  never  spoke  of  it  again,  she  feared  that  Dennis 
suspected  it  also.  It  was  one  of  those  painful  things  that 
must  be  buried,  even  as  the  grave  closes  over  the  frail, 
perishing  body. 

Let  those  who  are  tempted  to  a  wicked,  dishonorable 
deed  remember  that,  even  after  they  are  gone,  the  knowl- 
edge of  it  may  come  to  those  who  loved  them,  like  an 
incurable  wound. 

Dennis's  resolution  not  to  speak  till  Christine  should 
be  no  longer  dependent  on  him  was  fast  melting  away,  as 
he  learned  that  she  had  not  been  so  callous  and  forgetful 
as  she  had  seemed.  But  before  he  could  add  another  word, 
a  wild,  sweet,  mournful  voice  was  heard  singing: 

"0  fiery  storm,  wilt  never  cease? 

Thy  burning  hail  falls  on  my  heart; 
Bury  me  deep,  that  I  in  peace 

May  rest  where  death  no  more  can  part." 

In  awed,  startled  tones  they  both  exclaimed,  llSusiB 
WINTHBOP!" 


430  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


CHAPTEK  XLVIII 

DOCTOR   ARTEN   STRUCK  BY   LIGHTNING 

HASTENING  down  into  the  body  of  the  church,  Den- 
nis and  Christine  found  Mrs.  Leonard  lying  on  some 
cushions  in  a  pew.  She  was  scantily  clad,  her  sweet 
face  scorched  and  blackened,  and  her  beautiful  hair  almost 
crisped  away. 

Her  husband  was  bending  over  her  in  an  agony  of 
mingled  grief  and  joy.  She  had  just  been  brought  in 
from  wandering  aimlessly  and  alone  quite  out  upon  the 
prairie,  singing  in  a  low,  plaintive  way  to  herself  words 
suggested  by  the  sudden  disaster  that  had  temporarily 
robbed  her  of  husband,  of  reason,  and  almost  of  life. 

Dennis  afterward  learned  from  Professor  Leonard  that 
when  first  aroused  they  had  escaped  from  the  hotel,  but, 
not  realizing  the  danger,  he  had  stepped  back  a  moment 
at  her  request  to  get  something  she  valued  very  much, 
and  they  had  become  separated. 

"And  thus  at  last  I  find  the  poor  child,"  he  cried,  with 
a  look  of  agony. 

Mrs.  Leonard  did  not  know  any  of  them,  but  continued 
her  low,  plaintive  singing. 

Dr.  Arten,  who  had  found  his  way  to  the  church  as  one 
of  the  centres,  was  soon  in  attendance,  his  benevolent  face 
becoming  the  very  embodiment  of  pity.  The  crowd  were 
pushed  back,  and  with  other  kind  ladies  Christine  took 
charge  of  her  poor  unconscious  friend,  and  all  was  done 
that  skill  and  tender  love  could  suggest.  At  last,  under 
the  doctor's  opiates,  her  low,  weird  singing  ceased,  and  she 


DOCTOR    ARTEN   STRUCK   BY   LIGHTNING          431 

slept,  her  husband  holding  her  hand.  The  thronging  fugi- 
tives were  kept  a  little  away,  and  Dr.  Arten  slept  near,  to 
be  within  call. 

A  lady  asked  Christine  to  go  home  with  her,  but  she 
thanked  her  and  said,  "No,  I  would  rather  remain  in  the 
church  near  my  friends." 

Dennis  saw  that  she  was  greatly  wearied.  Taking  her 
hand,  he  said:  "Miss  Ludolph,  it  is  my  turn  to  take  care  of 
you  again.  See,  our  friends  are  preparing  a  place  there  for 
the  ladies  to  sleep.  Please  go  to  rest  at  once,  for  you  do 
indeed  need  it." 

"I  am  very  tired,  but  I  know  I  could  not  sleep.  How 
strange  this  life  is!  All  day,  the  world,  in  spite  of  what 
has  happened,  seemed  growing  brighter.  Now  with  the 
night  has  come  the  deeper  darkness  of  sorrow.  On  every 
side  pain  and  suffering  seem  to  predominate,  and  to  me 
there  will  ever  be  so  much  mystery  in  events  like  my 
father's  death  and  my  friend  Susie's  experience,  that 
I  know  it  will  be  hard  to  maintain  a  childlike  faith." 

"God  will  help  you  to  trust;  you  will  not  be  left  to 
struggle  alone.  Then  remember  you  are  His  child,  and 
earthly  parents  do  much  that  little  children  cannot  under- 
stand." 

With  a  faint  smile  she  answered:  "I  fear  I  shall  be  one 
of  those  troublesome  children  that  are  ever  asking  why. 
All  day  it  has  seemed  so  easy  to  be  a  Christian,  but  already 
I  learn  that  there  will  be  times  when  I  shall  have  to  cling  to 
my  Saviour,  instead  of  being  carried  forward  in  His  arms. 
Indeed,  I  almost  fear  that  I  shall  lose  Him  in  the  darkness." 

1 1  But  He  will  not  lose  you, ' '  replied  Dennis.  ' '  Since  you 
are  not  sleepy,  let  me  tell  you  a  short  Bible  story." 

"Oh,  do,  please  do,  just  as  if  1  were  a  little  child." 

"It  is  in  the  New  Testament.  Jesus  had  sent  His  dia- 
ciples  in  a  boat  across  the  sea  of  Galilee,  while  He  should 
go  up  alone  on  a  mountain  to  pray.  The  night  came,  and 
with  it  a  storm  swept  down  against  the  disciples.  The 
smooth  sea  was  lashed  into  great  foam-crested  waves  which 


432  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

broke  over  their  little  ship.  They  tugged  hour  after  hour 
at  the  oars,  but  in  vain.  The  night  grew  darker,  the  wind 
more  contrary,  the  waves  higher  and  more  threatening,  their 
arms  wearied,  and  they  may  have  feared  that  they  would 
perish  alone  and  without  remedy  in  the  black  midnight. 
But  we  read  that  'He  saw  them  toiling  in  rowing,'  though 
they  knew  it  not.  Erom  the  distant  mountain  side  'He  saw 
them' — marked  every  weary  stroke  of  the  oar,  and  every 
throb  of  fear.  But  at  last,  when  they  were  most  ready  to 
welcome  Him,  when  none  could  say,  'We  should  have 
rowed  through  the  storm  alone, '  He  came  to  them  walking 
safely  on  the  dark  waves  that  threatened  them  with  death, 
and  said,  'Be  of  good  cheer,  it  is  I;  be  not  afraid.'  Then 
they  gladly  received  Him  into  the  ship,  and  immediately 
the  rough  waves  were  hushed,  and  the  keel  of  the  boat 
grated  on  the  beach  toward  which  they  had  vainly  rowed. 
Then  they  that  were  in  the  ship  came  and  worshipped  Him, 
saying,  '  Of  a  truth  thou  art  the  Son  of  God. ' 

"Now  it  was  on  the  evening  of  that  very  night  that  these 
same  disciples  had  engaged  in  a  scene  of  festivity.  They 
had  stood  in  the  sunset  on  the  mountain  slope,  and  seen 
their  Lord  feed  many  thousand.  Then  all  was  peace, 
safety,  and  good  cheer.  Life  changed  as  quickly  for 
them  as  for  you,  but  did  not  their  Divine  Master  see 
them  as  truly  in  the  stormy  night  as  in  the  sunlight? 
Did  He  leave  them  to  perish? 

"He  is  watching  you,  Miss  Ludolph,  for  He  is  ever  the 
same;  and  before  this  stormy  night  of  your  sorrow  passes 
away  you  will  hear  His  voice,  saying,  'Be  of  good  cheer, 
it  is  I;  be  not  afraid.'  " 

"Already  I  hear  it,"  she  said,  in  a  low,  glad  voice,  smil- 
ing through  her  tears.  "I  can,  1  do  trust  Him,  and  the 
conflicting  winds  of  doubt  and  fear  are  becoming  still. 
Among  all  these  homeless  people  there  must  be  many  sad, 
discouraged  hearts.  You  have  helped  me  so  much;  can 
you  not  say  a  word  or  sing  something  that  will  help 
them?" 


DOCTOR   ARTEN  STRUCK   BY   LIGHTNING          433 

Dennis  thought  a  moment,  and  then,  in  a  sweet/  clear 
voice  that  penetrated  every  part  of  the  large  building,  sang: 

"Father  in  Heaven,  the  night  is  around  us, 

Terror  and  danger  our  portion  have  been ; 
We  cry  unto  Thee,  oh,  save  and  defend  us, 
Comfort  the  trembling,  and  pardon  our  sin. 

"Hearts  that  are  heavy,  look  onward  and  upward; 

Though  wild  was  the  storm  that  wrecked  your  loved  homes, 
Faith  lifts  your  sad  glances  hopefully  heavenward, 
To  mansions  prepared  with  glory-crowned  domes. 

"Hearts  that  are  breaking,  whose  lov'd  ones  have  vanished, 

Swept  down  in  the  seething  ocean  of  fire, 
E'en  now  they  may  rest  where  pain  is  all  banished, 
And  join  their  glad  songs  with  the  heavenly  choir. 

"Hearts  that  are  groaning  with  life's  weary  burden, 

Who  fear  to  go  forward,  to  sorrow  a  prey ; 
Jesus  invites  you — 'Oh,  come,  heavy  laden* ; 
Leave  sin  at  His  feet,  bear  mercy  away." 

A  f ter  the  first  line  there  was  a  breathless  hush ;  but,  when 
he  closed,  low  sobbings  might  be  heard  from  many  of  the 
women,  and  in  the  dim  light  not  a  few  tears  shone  in  the 
eyes  of  manhood.  Dennis's  voice  was  sympathetic  in  its 
character,  and  he  had  the  power  of  throwing  into  it  much 
feeling. 

Christine  was  weeping  quietly,  but  her  tears  now  were 
like  the  warm  spring  rain  as  it  falls  on  the  precious  seed. 
At  last  she  said,  "You  have  done  these  people  much  good." 

"To  you  belongs  all  the  credit,  for  it  was  at  your  sug- 
gestion I  sang." 

She  shook  her  head,  and  then  said,  "Good- night,  my 
friend,  I  shall  never  forget  this  day  with  its  mingled  ex- 
perience; but  I  think,  I  hope,  I  shall  never  doubt  God 
again";  and  she  went  to  her  rest. 

The  light  of  the  next  day  brought  to  view  many  hard 
realities,  and  chief  among  these  was  the  bread  question. 
Dennis  was  up  with  the  dawn,  and  by  eager  inquiries 

KOE—  V— 19 


434  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

sought  to  comprehend  the  situation.  Some  were  gloomy 
and  discouraged,  some  apathetic,  and  some  determined, 
courageous,  and  hopeful;  and  to  this  last  class  he  belonged. 

Most  thankful  that  he  had  come  out  of  the  fiery  ordeal 
unscathed,  he  resolved  to  contribute  his  quota  toward  a 
new  and  better  Chicago.  Young,  and  sanguine  in  tempera- 
ment, he  already  saw  the  city  rise  from  its  ashes  in  statelier 
proportions  and  richer  prosperity.  With  a  thrill  of  exul- 
tation he  heard  the  report  that  some  Napoleonic  business 
men  had  already  telegraphed  for  building  material,  and 
were  even  now  excavating  the  hot  ruins. 

Christine  had  hardly  joined  him  as  he  stood  at  the  door 
when  a  gentleman  entered  and  asked,  "Who  here  are  will- 
ing and  able  to  work  for  fair  wages  ?'* 

"I  am  at  your  service,"  said  Dennis,  stepping  forward 
promptly. 

"You  are  a  gentleman,  sir,'7  said  the  speaker,  impressed 
with  the  fact  by  Dennis's  bearing,  though  his  hat  and  coat 
were  gone;  "I  need  laborers  who  can  handle  the  pick  and 
shovel." 

"I  will  work  for  less,  then,  till  I  can  handle  these  tools 
as  well  as  a  laborer.  There  is  no  reason  why  I  should  eat 
the  bread  of  charity  a  day  longer,  especially  when  so  many 
need  it  more  than  I. ' ' 

"I  said  you  were  a  gentleman;  I  now  say  you  are  a  man, 
and  that  to  me  means  a  great  deal  more,"  said  the  energetic 
stranger.  "You  shall  have  two  dollars  a  day  with  the 
rest." 

He  turned  to  Christine  and  said,  almost  proudly,  "The 
supper  you  have  to-night  shall  be  yours  also." 

"That  is,"  she  replied,  with  a  smile,  "I  shall  live  on 
your  charity  instead  of  that  of  some  one  else. ' ' 

His  face  grew  sad  at  once,  but  he  answered,  as  he  went 
away,  "I  could  not  give  you  charity,  Miss  Ludolph." 

Christine  saw  that  she  had  pained  him,  and  was  much 
vexed  with  herself.  But  his  remark  added  to  the  hope  and 
almost  belief  that  she  still  held  her  old  place  in  his  heart, 


DOCTOR    ARTEN  STRUCK    BY   LIGHTNING          435 

and  she  resolved  to  make  amends  in  the  evening  for  her 
unlucky  speech. 

With  a  smile  she  said  to  herself:  "If  he  only  knew  that 
I  would  prefer  the  coarsest,  scantiest  fare  provided  by  him 
to  the  most  costly  banquet,  he  would  not  have  gone  away 
with  that  long  face,  flow  rich  life  would  be  if  I  could 
commence  it  with  him,  and  we  struggle  up  together!  Oh, 
Heaven,  grant,"  she  sighed,  looking  earnestly  upward, 
4 'that  through  these  wonderful,  terrible  changes,  I  may 
climb  the  mountain  at  his  side,  as  he  so  graphically  por- 
trayed it  in  his  picture!" 

Mrs.  Leonard  still  slept,  and  her  husband  in  an  agony 
of  anxiety  watched  at  her  side.  At  last,  a  little  before  mid- 
day, she  opened  her  eyes  and  said,  in  her  natural  tone: 
"Why,  John,  I  must  have  greatly  overslept.  Where  am 
I?"  and  then,  as  her  husband  fairly  sobbed  for  joy,  she 
started  up  and  said,  hurriedly:  "What  is  the  matter? 
What  has  happened?" 

"Oh,  be  calm!"  whispered  Christine  to  the  professor. 
"Everything  depends  on  keeping  her  quiet."  Then  she 
bent  over  her  friend,  and  said:  "Do  not  be  alarmed,  Susie; 
you  are  now  safe  and  well,  and  so  is  your  husband.  But 
you  have  been  ill,  and  for  his  sake  and  your  own  you  must 
keep  quiet." 

She  turned  inquiringly  to  her  husband,  who  said,  more 
calmly,  "it  is  all  true,  and  if  you  can  only  be  careful  we 
can  go  back  to  Boston  as  well  as  ever." 

"1  will  do  anything  you  say,  John;  but  why  am  I  in  a 
church?" 

"You  were  taken  sick  in  the  street,  and  this  was  the 
nearest  place  to  bring  you." 

"Oh,  dear!  I  have  had  such  strange,  dreadful  dreams. 
I  am  so  glad  they  were  only  dreams,  and  you  are  here  with 
me;"  and  she  lay  quietly  holding  her  husband's  hands  and 
looking  contentedly  in  his  face.  It  was  evident  she  was 
herself  again,  and  much  better. 

Dr.  Arten  soon  after  came  and  said,  cheerily,  "All  right! 


436  BARRIERS    BURNED    AW^Y 

all  right!  will  have  you  out  in  a  day  or  two  as  good  as  new, 
and  then,  Miss  Ludolph,  you  will  see  how  much  more  grate- 
ful she  is  to  the  old  doctor  than  you  were. ' ' 

"You  must  present  your  bill,"  replied  Christine,  with 
a  smile. 

"May  I?"  retorted  the  doctor,  wiping  his  lips. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know  about  that,"  cried  Christine;  adding, 
quickly,  "when  I  welcome  you  to  my  own  home  you  may." 

"An  old  maid's  hall,  I  suppose." 

"It  will  be  an  orphan's  home,  at  least,"  said  Christine, 
softly  and  sadly. 

Tears  filled  the  old  man's  eyes,  and  putting  his  arm 
around  her  he  drew  her  to  him,  saying,  as  he  stroked  her 
drooping  head:  "Poor  child!  poor  child!  I  did  not  know. 
But  you  shall  never  want  a  protector  while  the  old  doctor 
is  above  ground.  As  far  as  possible  I  will  be  a  father  to 
you;"  and  Christine  knew  she  had  found  a  friend  as  true 
and  strong  as  steel,  and  she  buried  her  face  on  his  shoulder 
and  cried  as  trustingly  as  his  own  child  might  have  done. 

"Oh,  Christine!"  cried  Mrs.  Leonard,  "I  am  so  sorry 
for  you!" 

At  the  voice  of  her  old  friend  she  at  once  rallied,  and, 
trying  to  smile  through  her  tears,  said,  "God  has  been  so 
much  better  to  me  than  I  deserved  that  I  have  only  grati- 
tude when  I  think  of  myself;  but  my  poor  father — "  and 
again  she  covered  her  face  and  wept. 

"Christine,  come  here,"  said  Mrs.  Leonard,  softly,  and 
she  put  her  arms  around  the  weeping  girl.  "You  spoke  of 
God's  being  good  to  you.  Have  you  in  truth  found  and 
learned  to  trust  Him?" 

"Yes,"  she  replied,  eagerly,  joy  and  peace  coming  out 
in  her  face  like  the  sun  shining  through  clouds  and  rain. 
Then  with  bowed  head  she  whispered  low:  "The  one  I 
wronged  on  earth  led  me  to  the  One  1  wronged  in  heaven, 
and  both  have  forgiven  me.  Oh,  I  am  so  glad,  so  happy!" 

"Then  you  have  seen  Mr.  Fleet." 

"Yes,  he  saved  my  life  again  and  again;  but  in  teaching 


DOCTOR   ARTEN  STRUCK   BY  LIGHTNING          487 

me  how  to  find  my  Saviour,  he    has   done   far   more  for 
me." 

"And  you  will  not  wrong  him  any  more,  will  you,  Chris- 
tine ?  fie  has  loved  you  so  long  and  faithfully." 

In  reply  she  lifted  an  eager  face  to  her  friend  and  said, 
"Do  you  think  he  can  love  me  still  after  my  treatment 
of  him?" 

"Give  him  a  chance  to  tell  you,"  said  Mrs.  Leonard, 
with  a  half -mischievous  smile.  "Has  he  not  shown  his 
feelings?" 

"He  has  treated  me  more  as  a  brother  might  have  done, 
and  yet  he  is  so  very  respectful  and  deferential — I  hope — 
but  I  am  not  perfectly  sure — and  then  he  seems  under  some 
restraint. ' ' 

Mrs.  Leonard  said,  musingly:  "He  knows  that  you  are 
Baroness  Ludolph.  I  told  him  last  week,  for  I  thought  he 
ought  to  know,  and  the  fact  of  your  approaching  departure 
for  Europe  has  been  no  secret  of  late.  He  thinks  you  are 
pledged  to  a  future  in  which  he  cannot  share;  and  in  your 
grateful,  dependent  condition  he  would  not  cause  you  the 
pain  of  refusing  him.  I  think  that  is  just  where  he  stands," 
she  concluded,  with  a  woman's  mastery  of  the  science  of 
love,  and  taking  almost  as  much  interest  in  her  friend's 
affair  as  she  had  felt  in  her  own.  To  most  ladies  this  sub- 
ject has  a  peculiar  fascination,  and,  having  settled  their 
own  matters,  they  enter  with  scarcely  less  zest  on  the  task 
of  helping  others  arrange  theirs.  Mrs.  Leonard  rallied  faster 
under  the  excitement  of  this  new  interest  than  from  the 
doctor's  remedies. 

After  a  few  moments'  thought  Christine  said,  decidedly: 
"All  that  nonsense  about  the  Baroness  Ludolph  is  past 
forever — burned  up  in  the  fire  with  many  things  of  more 
value.  I  have  been  fed  too  long  on  the  husks  of  human 
greatness  and  ambition  to  want  any  more  of  them.  They 
never  did  satisfy  me,  and  in  the  light  and  heat  of  the  terrific 
ordeal  through  which  I  have  just  passed  they  shrivelled 
into  utter  nothingness.  I  want  something  that  I  cannot 


438  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

lose  in  a  whiff  of  smoke  and  flame,  and  I  think  I  have 
found  it.  Henceforth  I  claim  no  other  character  than  that 
of  a  simple  Christian  girl."  Then  bowing  bur  head  on  her 
friend's  shoulder  she  added,  in  a  whisper,  "If  I  could  climb 
to  true  greatness  by  Mr.  Fleet's  side,  as  he  portrayed  it  in 
his  picture,  it  seems  to  me  heaven  would  begin  at  once." 

The  doctor,  who  had  taken  the  professor  asr'de,  now 
joined  them,  and  said:  "Mrs.  Leonard,  you  have  only  to 
take  reasonable  care  of  yourself,  and  you  will  soon  recover 
from  this  shock  and  exposure.  I  wish  all  my  patients  were 
doing  as  well." 

She  replied  with  a  smile,  taking  her  husband's  hand: 
"Since  I  have  found  my  old  Greek  here,  with  his  learned 
spectacles,  I  am  quite  myself,  and  I  feel  as  if  I  were  only 
playing  invalid. ' ' 

"You  may  have  slept  in  a  church  before,"  said  the  doc- 
tor, with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  "and  you  must  do  so  again. 
But  no  one  will  thunder  at  you  from  the  pulpit  this  time, 
so  I  leave  you  in  peace  and  security,  and  to-night  will  be 
within  call. ' ' 

Christine  followed  him  to  the  lobby  of  the  church,  when 
the  irrepressible  joker  could  not  forbear  saying:  "Now  let 
me  give  you  a  little  paternal  advice.  Don't  be  too  grateful 
to  that  young  Fleet.  He  only  did  his  duty,  and  of  course 
doesn't  deserve  any  special — " 

Christine,  with  flushing  cheeks,  interrupted  him  as  if  she 
had  not  heard:  "Doctor,  how  good  and  kind  you  are!  Here 
you  are  off  without  any  rest  to  look  after  the  sick  and  suffer- 
ing, and  you  seem  to  bring  health  and  hope  wherever 
you  go." 

"Yes,  yes;  but  I  send  my  bill  in  too — mind  that." 
(Some  of  his  poorer  patients  never  received  any,  and  he, 
when  twitted  of  the  fact,  would  mutter,  roughly,  "Business 
oversight — can't  attend  to  everything.") 

Christine  looked  for  a  moment  at  the  face  so  inspiring  in 
its  hearty  benevolence,  and  with  an  impulse,  so  unlike  the 
cold,  haughty  girl  of  old,  sprang  forward,  threw  her  arms 


DOCTOR    AETEN   STRUCK   BY  LIGHTNING  439 

around  his  neck,  and  gave  him  a  kiss  which  he  declared 
afterward  was  like  a  mild  stroke  of  lightning,  and  said, 
11  And  there  is  the  first  instalment  of  what  I  owe  you." 

The  old  gentleman  looked  as  if  he  decidedly  liked  the 
currency,  and  with  moistened  eyes  that  he  vainly  tried  to 
render  humorous,  he  raised  his  Inger  impressively  in  part- 
ing, and  said,  "Don't  you  ever  get  out  of  debt  to  me." 


440  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTEE  XLIX 
BILL    CRONK'S    TOAST 

AFTER  all,  it  was  a  long  day  to  Christine.  Tears  would 
start  from  her  eyes  at  the  thought  of  her  father,  but 
she  realized  that  the  only  thing  for  her  to  do  was  to 
shroud  his  memory  in  a  great,  forgiving  pity,  and  put  it 
away  forever.  She  could  only  turn  from  the  mystery  of  his 
life  and  death— the  mystery  of  evil — to  Him  who  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world.  There  was  no  darkness  in  that 
direction.  She  busied  herself  with  Mrs.  Leonard,  and  the 
distribution  of  food  to  others,  till  six  o'clock,  and  then  she 
stood  near  the  door  to  watch  till  her  true  knight  should 
appear  in  his  shirt- sleeves,  with  a  shovel  on  his  shoulder, 
and  an  old  burned,  tattered  felt  hat  on  his  head,  instead  of 
jewelled  crest  and  heron  plume. 

Dennis  had  gone  to  his  work  not  very  hopeful.  He  knew 
Christine  would  be  his  grateful  friend  while  she  lived,  and 
would  perhaps  even  regard  him  as  a  brother,  but  all  this 
might  be  and  still  she  be  unable  to  respond  to  his  deeper 
feelings.  Moreover,  he  knew  she  was  Baroness  Ludolph, 
and  might  be  heiress  of  such  titles  and  estates  in  Germany 
as  would  require  that  she  should  go  at  once  to  secure  them; 
and  so  she  seemed  clearly  to  pass  beyond  his  sphere. 

As  he  shovelled  the  hot  bricks  and  cinders  hour  after 
hour  among  other  laborers,  the  distance  between  himself 
and  the  Baroness  Ludolph  seemed  to  increase;  and  when, 
begrimed  and  weary,  he  sat  down  to  eat  his  dinner  of  a 
single  sandwich  saved  from  breakfast  (for  as  yet  he  had 
no  money),  the  ruins  around  him  were  quite  in  keeping 


BILL    CRONK'S    TOAST  441 

with  his  feelings.  He  thought  most  regretfully  of  his  two 
thousand  dollars  and  burned  picture.  The  brave,  resolute 
spirit  of  the  morning  had  deserted  him.  He  did  not  realize 
that  few  men  have  lived  who  could  be  brave  and  hopeful 
when  weary  and  hungry,  and  fewer  still,  when,  in  addition, 
they  doubted  the  favor  of  the  lady  of  their  love. 

The  work  of  the  afternoon  seemed  desperately  hard  and 
long,  but  with  dogged  persistency  Dennis  held  his  own  with 
the  others  till  six,  and  in  common  with  them  received  his 
two  dollars.  Whether  Christine  would  accept  the  supper 
he  brought  or  not,  he  determined  to  fulfil  his  promise  and 
bring  one.  Wearily  he  trudged  off  to  the  west  side,  in 
order  to  find  a  store.  No  one  who  met  him  would  have 
imagined  that  this  plodding  laborer  was  the  artist  who  the 
week  before  had  won  the  prize  and  title  of  genius. 

If  he  had  been  purchasing  a  supper  for  himself,  he  would 
doubtless  have  been  sensible  about  it;  but  one  that  the 
Baroness  Ludolph  might  share  was  a  different  matter.  He 
bought  some  very  rich  cake,  a  can  of  peaches,  a  box  of 
sardines,  some  fruit,  and  then  his  money  gave  out!  But, 
with  these  incongruous  and  indigestible  articles  made  up 
into  one  large  bundle,  he  started  for  the  church.  He  had 
gone  but  a  little  way  when  some  one  rushed  upon  him,  and 
little  Ernst  clasped  him  round  the  neck  and  fairly  cried  for 
joy.  Sitting  on  the  sidewalk  near  were  the  other  little 
Bruders,  looking  as  forlorn  and  dirty  as  three  motherless 
children  could.  Dennis  stopped  and  sat  down  beside  them 
(for  he  was  too  tired  to  stand),  while  Ernst  told  his  story 
— how  their  mother  had  left  them,  and  how  she  had  been 
found  so  burned  that  she  was  recognized  only  by  a  ring 
(which  he  had)  and  a  bit  of  the  picture  preserved  under  her 
body.  They  had  been  looking  ever  since  to  find  him,  and 
had  slept  where  they  could. 

As  Ernst  sobbingly  told  his  story  the  other  children 
cried  in  doleful  chorus,  and  Dennis's  tears  fell  fast  too,  as 
he  realized  how  his  humble  friend  had  perished.  He  re- 
membered her  kindness  to  his  mother  and  little  sisters,  and 


442  BARRIERS   BURNED    AWAY 

his  heart  acknowledged  the  claim  of  these  poor  little  or- 
phans. Prudence  whispered,  "  You  cannot  afford  to  burden 
yourself  with  all  these  children,"  and  pride  added,  "What 
a  figure  you  will  make  in  presenting  yourself  before  the 
Baroness  Ludolph  with  all  these  children  at  your  heels!" 
But  he  put  such  thoughts  resolutely  aside,  and  spoke  like 
a  brother;  and  when  one  of  the  children  sobbed,  "We  so 
hungry  I"  out  came  the  Baroness  Ludolph's  fruit  and  cake, 
and  nothing  remained  for  Christine  but  the  sardines  and 
peaches,  since  these  could  not  well  be  opened  in  the  street. 
The  little  Bruders  having  devoured  what  seemed  to  them 
the  ambrosia  of  the  gods,  he  took  the  youngest  in  his  arms, 
Ernst  following  with  the  others;  and  so  they  slowly  made 
their  way  to  the  church  where  Christine  was  now  anxiously 
waiting,  with  many  surmises  and  forebodings  at  Dennis's 
delay. 

At  last,  in  the  dusk,  the  little  group  appeared  at  the 
church-door,  and  she  exclaimed,  "What  has  kept  you  so, 
Mr,  Fleet?" 

He  determined  to  put  the  best  face  on  the  situation,  and 
indulge  in  no  heroics,  so  he  said,  "You  could  not  expect 
such  a  body  of  infantry  as  this  to  march  rapidly." 

"What!"  she  exclaimed,  "have  you  brought  all  the  lost 
children  in  the  city  back  with  you  ?' ' 

"No,  only  those  that  fell  properly  to  my  care;"  and  in 
a  few  words  he  told  their  story. 

"And  do  you,  without  a  cent  in  the  world,  mean  to 
assume  the  burden  of  these  four  children?"  she  asked, 
in  accents  of  surprise. 

He  could  not  see  her  face,  but  his  heart  sank  within 
him,  for  he  thought  that  to  her  it  would  seem  quixotic  and 
become  another  barrier  between  them;  but  he  answered, 
firmly:  "Yes,  till  God,  who  has  imposed  the  burden,  re- 
moves it,  and  enables  me  to  place  them  among  friends  in 
a  good  home.  Mrs.  Bruder,  before  she  died,  wrote  to  her 
family  in  Germany,  telling  her  whole  story.  Relatives  may 
take  the  children;  if  not,  some  way  will  be  provided." 


BILL    CRONK'S    TOAST  448 

uMr.  Fleet,  1  wonder  at  you,"  was  her  answer.  "Give 
me  that  child,  and  you  bring  the  others. ' ' 

He  wondered  at  her  as  he  saw  her  take  the  child  and 
imprint  a  kiss  on  the  sleepy,  dirty  face;  and  Ernst,  who 
had  been  eying  her  askance,  crept  timidly  nearer  when 
he  saw  the  kiss,  and  whispered,  "Perhaps  her  old  outside 
heart  has  been  burned  away. ' ' 

They  followed  to  a  lobby  of  the  lecture-room,  and  here 
she  procured  a  damp  towel  and  proceeded  to  remove  the 
tear  and  dust  stains  from  the  round  and  wondering  faces  of 
the  children.  Having  restored  them  to  something  of  their 
original  color,  she  took  them  away  to  supper,  say  ing  to  Dennis, 
with  a  decided  nod,  "You  stay  here  till  I  come  for  you." 

Something  in  her  manner  reminded  him  of  the  same  lit- 
tle autocrat  who  had  ordered  him  about  when  they  arranged 
the  store  together.  She  soon  returned  with  a  basin  of  water 
and  a  towel,  saying:  "See  what  a  luxury  you  secure  by 
obeying  orders.  Now  give  an  account  of  yourself,  as  every 
lady's  knight  should  on  his  return.  How  have  you  spent 
the  day  ?" 

He  could  not  forbear  laughing  as  he  said:  "My  employ- 
ment has  been  almost  ludicrously  incongruous  with  the  title 
by  which  you  honor  me.  I  have  been  shovelling  brick  and 
mortar  with  other  laborers." 

"All  day?" 

"All  day." 

Her  glance  became  so  tender  and  wistful  that  he  forgot 
to  wash  his  hands  in  looking  at  her,  and  felt  for  the  moment 
as  if  he  could  shovel  rubbish  forever,  if  such  could  be  his 
reward. 

Seemingly  by  an  effort,  she  regained  her  brusque  man- 
ner, which  he  did  not  know  was  but  the  mask  she  was 
trying  to  wear,  and  said,  quickly:  "What  is  the  matter? 
Why  don't  you  wash  your  face  ?" 

"You  told  me  to  give  an  account  of  myself,"  he  retorted, 
at  the  same  time  showing  rising  color  in  his  dust- begrimed 
face. 


444  BARRIEES   BURNED   AWAY 

''Well,  one  of  your  ability  can  do  two  things  at  once. 
What  have  you  got  in  that  bundle  ?' ' 

"You  may  have  forgotten,  but  I  promised  to  bring  you 
home  something  that  you  chose  to  regard  as  charity/' 

41  If  I  was  so  ungracious,  you  ought  to  have  rewarded  me 
by  bringing  me  a  broken  brick.  Will  you  let  me  see  what 
you  brought?"  but  without  waiting  for  permission  she 
pounced  upon  the  bundle  and  dragged  out  the  peaches 
and  sardines. 

He,  having  washed  and  partially  wiped  his  face,  was 
now  able  to  display  more  of  his  embarrassment,  and  added, 
Apologetically:  "That  is  not  all  I  had.  I  also  bought  some 
cake  and  fruit,  and  then  my  money  gave  out. ' ' 

"And  do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  have  no  money  left  ?" 

"Not  a  penny,"  he  answered,  desperately. 

"But  where  are  the  cake  and  fruit?" 

"Well,"  he  said,  laughingly,  "I  found  the  little  Bruders 
famishing  on  the  sidewalk,  and  they  got  the  best  part  of 
your  supper." 

"What  an  escape  I  have  had!"  she  exclaimed.  "Do  you 
think  I  should  have  survived  the  night  if  I  had  eaten  those 
strangely  assorted  dainties,  as  in  honor  bound  I  would  have 
done,  since  you  brought  them  ?"  Then  with  a  face  of  com- 
ical severity  she  turned  upon  him  and  said:  "Mr.  Fleet,  you 
need  some  one  to  take  care  of  you.  What  kind  of  economy 
do  you  call  this,  sir,  especially  on  the  part  of  one  who  has 
burdened  himself  with  four  helpless  children  ?" 

There  was  a  mingling  of  sense  and  seriousness  in  her 
raillery,  which  he  recognized,  and  he  said,  with  a  half- 
vexed  laugh  at  himself:  "Well,  really,  Miss  Ludolph,  I 
suppose  that  I  have  not  wholly  regained  my  wits  since  the 
fire.  I  throw  myself  on  your  mercy."  (The  same  expres- 
sion he  had  used  once  before.  She  remembered  it,  and  her 
face  changed  instantly.)  Turning  hastily  away  to  hide  her 
feelings,  she  said,  in  a  rather  husky  voice,  "When  I  was  a 
wicked,  fool,  I  told  you  I  had  none ;  but  I  think  I  am  a  lit- 
tle changed  now."  Then  she  added,  sharply,  "Please  don't 


BILL   CROCK'S    TOAST  445 

stand  there  keeping  our  friends  waiting";  and  she  led  the 
way  into  the  lecture-room,  now  filled  with  tables  and  hungry 
people. 

Dennis  was  in  a  maze,  and  could  scarcely  understand  her, 
she  was  so  different  from  the  pensive  lady,  shrinking  from 
rude  contact  with  the  world,  that  he  had  expected  to  meet. 
He  did  not  realize  that  there  was  not  a  particle  of  weak  sen- 
timentality about  her,  and  that,  since  now  pride  was  gone, 
her  energetic  spirit  would  make  her  as  truly  a  leader  in 
scenes  like  these  as  in  those  with  which  she  had  been  famil- 
iar. Much  less  could  he  understand  that  she  was  hiding 
a  heart  brimming  over  with  love  to  him. 

He  followed  her,  however,  with  much  assumed  humility. 
\Vhen  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  who  should  meet  him 
squarely  but  Bill  Cronk  ? 

4 'Hollo!'7  he  roared,  giving  Dennis  a  slap  on  his  back 
that  startled  even  the  hungry,  apathetic  people  at  the 
tables. 

Dennis  was  now  almost  desperate.  Glad  as  he  was  to  see 
Cronk,  he  felt  that  he  was  gathering  around  him  a  company 
as  incongruous  as  was  the  supper  he  had  brought  home.  If 
Yahcob  Bunk  or  even  the  red-nosed  bartender  had  appeared, 
to  claim  him  as  brother,  he  would  scarcely  have  been  sur- 
prised. He  naturally  thought  that  the  Baroness  Ludolph 
might  hesitate  before  entering  such  a  circle  of  intimates. 
But  he  was  not  guilty  of  the  meanness  of  cutting  a  humble 
friend,  even  though  he  saw  the  eyes  of  Christine  resting  on 
him.  In  his  embarrassment,  however,  he  held  out  the  wash- 
basin in  his  confused  effort  to  shake  hands,  and  said,  heart- 
ily, "Why,  Cronk,  I  am  glad  you  came  safely  out  of  it." 

"Is  this  gentleman  a  friend  of  yours?"  asked  Christine, 
with  inimitable  grace. 

"Yes!"  said  Dennis,  firmly,  though  coloring  somewhat. 
"He  once  rendered  me  a  great  kindness — " 

"Well,  miss,  you  bet  your  money  on  the  right  hoss  that 
time,"  interrupted  Bill.  "If  I  hain't  a  friend  of  his'n,  I'd 
like  to  know  where  you'll  find  one;  though  I  did  kick  up 


446  BARRIERS   BURNED    A  WAV 

like  a  cussed  ole  mule  when  he  knocked  the  bottle  out  of 
my  hand.  Like  enough  if  he  hadn't  1  wouldn't  be  here.71 

"Won't  you  present  me,  Mr.  Fleet?"  said  Christine, 
with  an  amused  twinkle  in  her  eye. 

"Mr.  Cronk,"  said  Dennis  (who  had  now  reached  that 
state  of  mind  when  one  becomes  reckless),  "this  lady  is 
Miss  Ludolph,  and,  I  hope  I  may  venture  to  add,  another 
friend  of  mine." 

She  at  once  put  out  her  hand,  that  seemed  like  a  snow- 
flake  in  the  great  horny  paw  of  the  drover,  and  said,  "In- 
deed, Mr.  Cronk,  I  will  permit  no  one  to  claim  stronger 
friendship  to  Mr.  Fleet  than  mine." 

"I  can  take  any  friend  of  Mr.  Fleet's  to  my  buzzom  at 
once,"  said  Bill,  speaking  figuratively,  but  Christine  in- 
stinctively shrank  nearer  Dennis.  In  talking  with  men, 
Bill  used  the  oil-hand  vernacular  of  his  calling,  but  when 
addressing  ladies,  he  evidently  thought  that  a  certain  style 
of  metaphor  bordering  on  sentiment  was  the  proper  thing. 
But  Christine  said,  "As  a  friend  of  Mr.  Fleet's  you  shall 
join  our  party  at  once";  and  she  led  them  to  the  further 
end  of  the  room,  where  at  a  table  sat  Dr.  Arten,  Professor 
and  Mrs.  Leonard,  Ernst,  and  the  little  Bruders,  who  at  the 
prospect  of  more  eating  were  wide  awake  again.  After  the 
most  hearty  greetings  they  were  seated,  and  she  took  her 
place  by  the  side  of  the  little  children  in  order  to  wait  on 
them.  Few  more  remarkable  groups  sat  down  together, 
even  in  that  time  of  chaos  and  deprivation.  Professor 
Leonard  was  without  vest  or  collar,  and  sat  with  coat  but- 
toned tight  up  to  his  chin  to  hide  the  defect.  He  had  lost 
his  scholarly  gold-rimmed  spectacles;  and  a  wonderful  pair 
of  goggles  bestrode  his  nose  in  their  place.  Mrs.  Leonard 
waB  lost  in  the  folds  of  an  old  delaine  dress  that  was  a  mile 
too  large,  and  her  face  looked  as  if  she  had  assisted  actively 
in  an  Irish  wake.  Dr.  Arten  did  the  honors  at  the  head  of 
the  table  in  his  dress  coat  and  vest  that  had  once  been 
white,  though  he  no  longer  figured  around  in  red  flannel 
drawers  as  he  had  done  on  the  beach.  The  little  round 


BILL    CRONK'S   TOAST  447 

faces  of  the  Binders  seemed  as  if  protruding  from  animated 
rag  babies,  while  nothing  could  dim  the  glory  of  Ernst's 
great  spiritual  eyes,  as  they  gratefully  and  wistfully  fol- 
lowed Dennis's  every  movement.  Cronk  was  in  a  very 
dilapidated  and  famished  state,  and  endured  many  and 
varied  tortures  in  his  efforts  to  be  polite  while  he  bolted 
sandwiches  at  a  rate  that  threatened  famine.  Christine  still 
wore  the  woollen  dress  she  had  so  hastily  donned  with  Den- 
nis's assistance  on  Sunday  night,  and  the  marks  of  the  fire 
were  all  over  it.  Around  her  neck  the  sparks  had  burned 
a  hole  here  and  there,  through  which  her  white  shoulders 
gleamed.  While  she  was  self-possessed  and  assiduous  in 
her  attention  to  the  little  children,  there  was  a  glow  of 
excitement  in  her  eyes  which  perhaps  Mrs.  Leonard  under- 
stood better  than  any  one  else,  though  the  shrewd  old  doctor 
was  anything  but  blind. 

Dennis  sat  next  to  Christine  in  shirt-sleeves  once  white, 
but  now,  through  dust  and  smoke,  of  as  many  colors  as 
Joseph's  coat.  He  was  too  weary  to  eat  much,  and  there 
was  a  weight  upon  his  spirits  that  he  could  not  throw  off — 
the  inevitable  despondency  that  follows  great  fatigue  when 
the  mind  is  not  at  rest 

Christine  darted  away  and  brought  him  a  huge  mug  of 
hot  coffee. 

" Really,  Miss  Ludolph,"  he  remonstrated,  "you  should 
not  wait  on  me  in  this  style." 

"You  may  well  feel  honored,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Leonard. 
"It  is  not  every  man  that  is  waited  on  by  a  baroness." 

"The  trouble  with  Christine  is  that  she  is  too  grateful," 
put  in  the  old  doctor. 

"Now  I  should  say  that  was  scarcely  possible  in  view 
of — "  commenced  the  professor,  innocently. 

"I  really  hope  Miss  Ludolph  will  do  nothing  more  from 
gratitude,"  interrupted  Dennis,  in  a  low  tone  that  showed 
decided  annoyance. 

The  doctor  and  Mrs.  Leonard  were  ready  to  burst  with 
suppressed  amusement,  and  Cronk,  seeing  something  going 


448  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 

on  that  he  did  not  understand,  looked  curiously  around 
with  a  sandwich  half-way  to  his  open  mouth,  while  Ernst, 
believing  from  Dennis's  tone  that  he  was  wronged,  turned 
his  great  eyes  reproachfully  from  one  to  another.  But  Chris- 
tine was  equal  to  the  occasion.  Lifting  her  head  and  look- 
ing round  with  a  free,  clear  glance  she  said,  "And  I  say 
that  men  who  meet  this  great  disaster  with  courage  and 
fortitude,  and  hopefully  set  about  retrieving  it,  possess  an 
inherent  nobility  such  as  no  king  or  kaiser  could  bestow, 
and,  were  I  twenty  times  a  baroness,  I  should  esteem  it  an 
honor  to  wait  upon  them." 

A  round  of  applause  followed  this  speech,  in  which 
Cronk  joined  vociferously,  and  Mrs.  Leonard  whispered: 
11  Oh,  Christine,  how  beautifully  I  learn  from  your  face  the 
difference  between  dignity  and  pride!  That  was  your  same 
old  proud  look,  changed  and  glorified  into  something  so 
much  better." 

Dennis  also  saw  her  expression,  and  could  not  disguise 
his  admiration,  but  every  moment  he  increasingly  felt  how 
desperately  hard  it  would  be  to  give  her  up,  now  that  she 
seemed  to  realize  his  very  ideal  of  womanhood. 

And  Cronk,  having  satisfied  the  clamors  of  his  appetite, 
began  to  be  fascinated  in  his  rough  way  with  her  grace  and 
beauty.  Nudging  Dennis  he  asked  in  a  loud  whisper  heard 
by  all,  which  nearly  caused  Dr.  Arten  to  choke,  ' '  The  young 
filly  is  a  German  lady,  ain't  she  ?" 

Dennis,  much  embarrassed,  nodded  assent. 

A  happy  thought  struck  Bill.  Though  impeded  by  the 
weight  of  an  indefinite  number  of  sandwiches,  he  slowly  rose 
and  looked  solemnly  round  on  the  little  group.  Dennis 
trembled,  for  he  feared  some  dreadful  bull  on  the  part  of  his 
rough,  though  well-meaning  friend,  but  Dr.  Arten,  in  a  state 
of  intense  enjoyment,  cried,  "Mr.  Cronk  has  the  floor." 

Lifting  a  can  of  coffee  containing  about  a  quart,  the 
drover  said  impressively,  and  with  an  attempt  at  great 
stateliness : 

"Beautiful  ladies  and  honorable  gentlemen  here  assem- 


BILL   CRONK'S   TOAST  449 

bled,  I  would  respectfully  ask  you  to  drink  to  a  toast  in  this 
harmless  beverage:  The  United  States  of  Ameriky !  When 
the  two  great  elemental  races — the  sanguinary  Yankee  and 
the  phlegmatic  German — become  one,  and,  as  represented  in 
the  blooded  team  before  me"  (waving  his  hand  majestically 
over  the  heads  of  Dennis  and  Christine),  "pull  in  the  traces 
together,  how  will  the  ship  of  state  go  forward  1"  and  his 
face  disappeared  behind  his  huge  flagon  of  coffee  in  the 
deepest  pledge.  Bill  thought  he  had  uttered  a  very  pro- 
found and  elegant  sentiment,  but  his  speech  fell  like  a 
bombshell  in  the  little  company. 

"The  very  spirit  of  mischief  is  abroad  to-day,"  Dennis 
groaned.  And  Christine,  with  a  face  like  a  peony,  snatched 
up  the  youngest  little  Bruder,  saying,,  "It  is  time  these 
sleepy  children  were  in  bed";  but  the  doctor  and  the 
Leonards  went  off  again  and  again  in  uncontrollable  fits 
of  laughter,  in  which  Dennis  could  not  refrain  from  joining, 
though  he  wished  the  unlucky  Cronk  a  thousand  miles 
away.  Bill  put  down  his  mug,  stared  around  in  a  surprised 
and  nonplussed  manner,  and  then  said,  in  a  loud  whisper, 
"I  say,  Fleet,  was  there  any  hitch  in  what  I  said?" 

This  set  them  off  again,  but  Dennis  answered  good- 
naturedly,  slapping  his  friend  on  the  shoulder,  "Cronk,  you 
would  make  a  man  laugh  in  the  face  of  fate." 

Bill  took  this  as  a  compliment,  and  the  strange  party, 
thrown  together  by  an  event  that  mingled  all  classes  in  the 
community,  broke  up  and  went  their  several  ways. 


450  BARRIERS   BURNED   AWAY 


CHAPTER  L 

EVERY   BARRIER  BURNED  AWAY 

DENNIS  was  glad  to  escape,  and  went  to  a  side  door 
where  he  could  cool  his  hot  cheeks  in  the  night  air. 
He  fairly  dreaded  to  meet  Christine  again,  and,  even 
where  the  wind  blew  cold  upon  him,  his  cheeks  grew  hotter 
and  hotter,  as  he  remembered  what  had  occurred.     He  had 
been  there  but  a  little  time  when  a  light  hand  fell  on  his 
arm,  and  he  was  startled   by  her  voice — "Mr.  Fleet,  are 
you  very  tired?" 

"Not  in  the  least,"  he  answered,  eagerly. 

44 You  must  be:  it  is  wrong  for  me  to  think  of  it." 

*'Miss  Ludolph,  please  tell  me  what  I  can  do  for  you?" 

She  looked  at  him  wistfully  and  said:  "This  is  a  time 

when  loss  and  disaster  burden  every  heart,  and  I  know  it 

is  a  duty  to  try  to  maintain  a  cheerful  courage,  and  forget 

personal  troubles.     I  have  tried  to-day,  and,  with  God's 

help,  hope  in  time  to  succeed.     While  endeavoring  to  wear 

in  public  a  cheerful  face,  I  may  perhaps  now,  and  to  so 

true  a  friend  as  yourself,  show  more  of  my  real  feelings. 

Is  it  too  far — would  it  take  too  long,  to  go  to  where  my 

father  died  ?     His  remains  could  not  have  been  removed." 

uAlas,  Miss  Ludolph,"  said  Dennis,  very  gently,  "there 

can  be  no  visible  remains.     The  words  of  the  Prayer  Book 

are  literally  true  in  this  case — 'Ashes  to  ashes.'     But  I  can 

take  you  to  the  spot,  and  it  is  natural  that  you  should  wish 

to  go.     Are  you  equal  to  the  fatigue  ?" 

"I  shall  not  feel  it  if  you  go  with  me,  and  then  we  can 
ride  part  of  the  way,  for  I  have  a  little  money."  (Dr.  Arten 
had  insisted  on  her  taking  some.)  ' l  Wait  for  me  a  moment. ' ' 


EVERY    BARRIER    BURNED    AWAY  451 

She  soon  reappeared  with  her  shawl  cut  in  two  equal 
parts.  One  she  insisted  on  folding  and  putting  around  him 
as  a  Scotsman  wears  his  plaid.  "You  will  need  it  in  the 
cool  night  wind,"  she  said,  and  then  she  took  his  arm  in 
perfect  trust,  and  they  started. 

In  the  cars  she  gave  him  her  money,  and  he  said,  "I  will 
return  my  fare  to-morrow  night." 

"What!"  she  replied,  looking  a  little  hurt.  "After 
spending  two  dollars  on  me,  will  you  not  take  five  cents 
in  return?" 

"Bat  I  spent  it  foolishly." 

"You  spent  it  like  a  generous  man.  Surely,  Mr.  Fleet, 
you  did  not  understand  my  badinage  this  evening.  If  I  had 
not  spoken  to  you  in  that  strain,  I  could  not  have  spoken 
at  all.  You  have  been  a  brother  to  me,  and  we  should  not 
stand  on  these  little  things." 

"That  is  it,"  thought  he  again.  "She  looks  upon  and 
trusts  me  as  a  brother,  and  such  I  must  try  to  be  till  she 
departs  for  her  own  land;  yet  if  she  knew  the  agony  of  the 
effort  she  would  scarcely  ask  it." 

But  as  they  left  the  car,  he  said,  "All  that  you  would 
ask  from  a  brother,  please  ask  from  me." 

She  put  her  hand  in  his,  and  said,  "I  now  ask  your  sup- 
port, sympathy,  and  prayer,  for  I  feel  that  I  shall  need 
all  here." 

Still  retaining  her  hand,  he  placed  it  on  his  arm  and 
guided  her  most  carefully  around  the  hot  ruins  and  heaps 
of  rubbish  till  they  came  to  where  the  Art  Building  had 
stood.  The  moon  shone  brightly  down,  lighting  up  with 
weird  and  ghostly  effect  the  few  walls  remaining.  They 
were  utterly  alone  in  the  midst  of  a  desolation  sevenfold 
more  impressing  than  that  of  the  desert.  Pointing  to  the 
spot  where,  ^ in  the  midst  of  his  treasures  of  art^and  idolized 
worldly  possessions,  Mr.  Ludolph  had  perished,  she  said, 
in  a  thrilling  whisper,  "My  father's  ashes  are  there." 

"Yes." 

Her  breath  came  quick  and  short,  and  her  face  was  so 


452  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

pale  and  agonized  that  he  trembled  for  her,  but  he  tight- 
ened his  grasp  on  her  hand,  and  his  tears  fell  with  hers. 

"Oh,  my  father!"  she  cried,  in  a  tone  of  unspeakable 
pathos,  "can  I  never,  never  see  you  again?  Can  I  never 
tell  you  of  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  the  better  and  happier 
life  beyond  ?  Oh,  how  my  heart  yearns  after  you !  God  for- 
give me  if  this  is  wrong,  but  I  cannot  help  it!" 

"It  is  not  wrong,"  said  Dennis,  brokenly.  "Our  Lord 
himself  wept  over  those  He  could  not  save." 

"It  is  all  that  I  can  do,"  she  murmured,  and,  leaning 
her  head  on  his  shoulder,  a  tempest  of  sobs  shook  her  person. 

He  supported  her  tenderly,  and  said,  in  accents  of  the 
deepest  sympathy,  "Let  every  tear  fall  that  will:  they  will 
do  you  good. "  At  last,  as  she  became  calmer,  he  added, 
"Bemember  that  your  great  Elder  Brother  has  called  the 
heavy  laden  to  Him  for  rest. ' ' 

At  last  she  raised  her  head,  turned,  and  gave  one  long 
parting  look,  and,  as  Dennis  saw  her  face  in  the  white  moon- 
light, it  was  the  face  of  a  pitying  angel.  A  low  "Farewell!" 
trembled  from  her  lips,  she  leaned  heavily  on  his  arm,  they 
turned  away,  and  seemingly  the  curtain  fell  between  father 
and  child  to  rise  no  more. 

"Mr.  Fleet,"  she  said,  pleadingly,  "are  you  too  tired  to 
take  me  to  my  old  home  on  the  north  side  ?" 

"Miss  Ludolph,  I  could  go  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  for 
you,  but  you  are  not  equal  to  this  strain  upon  your  feelings. 
Have  mercy  on  yourself. ' ' 

But  she  said,  in  a  low,  dreamy  tone:  "I  wish  to  take 
leave  to-night  of  my  old  life — the  strange,  sad  past  with 
its  mystery  of  evil;  and  then  I  shall  set  my  face  resolutely 
toward  a  better  life — a  better  country.  So  bear  with  me, 
my  true,  kind  friend,  a  little  longer." 

"Believe  me,  my  thought  was  all  for  you.  All  sense  of 
fatigue  has  passed  away." 

Silently  they  made  their  way,  till  they  stood  where,  a 
few  short  days  before,  had  been  the  elegant  home  that  was 
full  of  sad  and  pain  ful  memories  to  both. 


EVERY    BARRIER    BURNED    AWAY  453 

4 'There  was  my  studio,"  she  said  in  the  same  dreamy 
tone,  "where  I  indulged  in  my  wild,  ambitious  dreams, 
and  sought  to  grasp  a  little  fading  circlet  of  laurel,  while 
ignoring  a  heavenly  and  an  immortal  crown.  There,"  she 
continued,  her  pale  face  becoming  crimson,  even  in  the 
white  moonlight,  "I  most  painfully  wronged  you,  my  most 
generous,  forgiving  friend,  and  a  noble  revenge  you  took 
when  you  saved  my  life  and  led  me  to  a  Saviour.  May  God 
reward  you;  but  I  humbly  ask  your  pardon — " 

"Please,  Miss  Ludolph,  do  not  speak  of  that.  I  have 
buried  it  all.  Do  not  pain  yourself  by  recalling  that  which 
I  have  forgiven  and  almost  forgotten.  You  are  now  my 
ideal  of  all  that  is  noble  and  good,  and  in  my  solitary 
artist  life  of  the  future  you  shall  be  my  gentle  yet  potent 
inspiration." 

"Why  must  your  life  be  solitary  in  the  future?"  she 
asked,  in  a  low  tone. 

He  was  very  pale,  and  his  arm  trembled  under  her  hand; 
at  last  he  said,  in  a  hoarse  voice,  "Do  not  ask  me.  Why 
should  I  pain  you  by  telling  you  the  truth?" 

"Is  it  the  part  of  a  true  friend  to  refuse  confidence?" 
she  asked,  reproachfully. 

He  turned  his  face  away,  that  she  might  not  see  the  evi- 
dences of  the  bitter  struggle  within — the  severest  he  had 
ever  known;  but  at  last  he  spoke  in  the  firm  and  quiet 
voice  of  victory.  She  had  called  him  brother,  and  trusted 
him  as  such.  She  had  ventured  out  alone  on  a  sacred 
mission  with  him,  as  she  might  with  a  brother.  She  was 
dependent  on  him,  and  burdened  by  a  feeling  of  obligation. 
His  high  sense  of  honor  forbade  that  he  should  urge  his 
suit  under  such  circumstances.  If  she  could  not  accept, 
how  painful  beyond  words  would  be  the  necessity  of  re- 
fusal, and  the  impression  had  become  almost  fixed  in  his 
mind  that  her  regard  for  him  was  only  sisterly  and  grateful 
in  its  character. 

"Yes,  Miss  Ludolph,"  he  said,  "my  silence  is  the  part 
of  true  friendship— truer  than  you  can  ever  know.  May 


454  BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 

Heaven's  richest  blessings  go  with  you  to  your  own  land, 
and  follow  you.  through  a  long,  happy  life." 

"My  own  land ?     This  is  my  own  land." 

"Do  you  not  intend  to  go  abroad  at  once,  and  enter  upon 
your  ancestral  estates  as  the  Baroness  Ludolph  ?" 

"Not  if  I  can  earn  a  livelihood  in  Chicago,"  she  an- 
swered, most  firmly.  "Mr.  Fleet,  all  that  nonsense  has 
perished  as  utterly  as  this  my  former  home.  It  belongs  to 
my  old  life,  of  which  I  have  forever  taken  leave  to-night. 
My  ancestral  estate  in  Germany  is  but  a  petty  affair,  and 
mortgaged  beyond  its  real  worth  by  my  deceased  uncle. 
All  I  possess,  all  I  value,  is  in  this  city.  It  was  my 
father's  ambition,  and  at  one  time  my  own,  to  restore  the 
ancient  grandeur  of  the  family  with  the  wealth  acquired  in 
this  land.  The  plan  lost  its  charms  for  me  long  ago— I 
would  not  have  gone  if  I  could  have  helped  it — and  now  it 
is  impossible.  It  has  perished  in  flame  and  smoke.  Mr. 
Fleet,  you  see  before  you  a  simple  American  girl.  I  claim 
and  wish  to  be  known  in  no  other  character.  If  nothing  re- 
mains of  my  father's  fortune  I  shall  teach  either  music  or 
painting — " 

"Oh,  Christine!"  he  interrupted,  "forgive  me  for  speak- 
ing to  you  under  the  circumstances,  but  indeed  I  cannot 
help  it.  Is  there  hope  for  me  ?' ' 

She  looked  at  him  so  earnestly  as  to  remind  him  of  her 
strange,  steady  gaze  when  before  he  pleaded  for  her  love 
near  that  same  spot,  but  her  hand  trembled  in  his  like  a 
fluttering,  frightened  bird.  In  a  low,  eager  tone  she  said, 
"And  can  you  still  truly  love  me  after  all  the  shameful 
past?'7 

"When  have  I  ceased  to  love  you?" 

With  a  little  cry  of  ecstasy,  like  the  note  of  joy  that  a 
weary  bird  might  utter  as  it  flew  to  its  mate,  she  put  her 
arm  around  his  neck,  buried  her  face  on  his  shoulder,  and 
said,  "No  hope  for  you,  Dennis,  but  perfect  certainty,  for 

nOW  EVERY  BARRIER  IS  BURNED  AWAY!" 

What  though  the  home  before  them  is  a  deserted  ruin? 


EVERY    BARRIER    BURNED    AWAY  455 

Love  is  joining  hands  that  shall  build  a  fairer  and  better 
one,  because  filled  with  that  which  only  makes  a  home — 
love. 

What  though  all  around  are  only  dreary  ruins,  where 
the  night  wind  is  sighing  mournfully  ?  Love  has  trans- 
formed that  desert  place  into  the  paradise  of  God;  and,  if 
such  is  its  power  in  the  wastes  of  earthly  desolation,  what 
will  be  its  might  amid  the  perfect  scenes  of  heaven  ? 

Our  story  is  finished. 

It  only  remains  to  say  that  Christine  stands  high  at 
court,  but  it  is  a  grander  one  than  any  of  earth.  She  is 
allied  to  a  noble,  but  to  one  who  has  received  his  patent 
from  no  petty  sovereign  of  this  world.  She  has  lost  sight 
of  the  transient  laurel  wreath  which  she  sought  to  grasp  at 
such  cost  to  herself  and  others,  in  view  of  the  "crown  of 
glory  that  fadeth  not  away,"  and  to  this  already,  as  an 
earnest  Christian,  she  has  added  starry  jewels. 

Below  is  the  Ludolph  Hall  in  which  sturdy  independence 
led  her  to  begin  her  married  life.  But  she  is  climbing  the 
mountain  at  her  husband's  side,  and  often  her  hands  steady 
and  help  him.  The  ash-tree,  twined  with  the  passion-flower, 
is  not  very  far  above  them,  and  the  villa,  beautiful  within 
and  without,  is  no  vain  dream  of  the  future.  But  even  in 
happy  youth  their  eyes  of  faith  see  in  airy,  golden  outline 
their  heavenly  home  awaiting  them. 


456 


BARRIERS    BURNED    AWAY 


SHELTER    COMMITTEE 


HOUSE    WITH   TWO    ROOMS 


NOTE. — The  above  is  a  diagram  of  the  little  houses  furnished  by  the 
Chicago  Shelter  Committee  to  those  who  possessed  or  could  procure  ground 
on  which  to  build. 


THE   END 


STORED  AT  NRLF 


THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


DATE  stamped  below. 


100m-8,'65(F6282s8)2373 


PS2727.B37  1900a 


3  2106  00208  0288 


